Ruto flies to Coast to invigorate Jubilee's Malindi by-election campaign

Deputy President WIlliam Ruto addresses residents of Ganda in Kilifi county in Malindi Town constituency on February 22, 2016. Mr Ruto later flew to Malindi to campaign for the Jubilee candidate Mr Philip Charo. PHOTO | CHARLES KIMANI | DPPS

What you need to know:

  • Jubilee leaders asked coast residents to back the government in fighting the drug lords ruining the lives of youth at the Coast. 
  • Mr Mung’aro, an ODM lawmaker, said his party had nothing to offer the people of Malindi and the Coast, in general.

  • Mr Duale asked residents to turn up in large numbers to back Mr Charo on March 7. 

Deputy President William Ruto on Monday joined the Jubilee campaign team to drum up support for JAP candidate Philip Charo in the Malindi constituency by-election.

Mr Ruto, who arrived in the resort town in the afternoon, went straight to Marere Village in Ganda Location and later Malindi Town, where he asked residents to vote for Mr Charo whom he described as “a focused leader”.

He said Mr Charo would help develop Malindi because he has the interests of the people at heart and has a strong development record although not an elected leader.

Among those who joined the Deputy President were National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko,  MPs Gideon Mung’aro, Mustafa Iddi, Khatib Mwashetani, Mwanaisha Chidzuga, Ibrahim Sane, and Harrison Kombe and nominated Senator Emma Mbura

The leaders asked coast residents to back the government in fighting the drug lords ruining the lives of youth at the Coast. 

Mr Mung’aro, himself an ODM lawmaker, said his party had nothing to offer the people of Malindi and the Coast, in general.

“If you want development, please, join the party in government. We do not want to stay in the Opposition forever,” he said and asked the government to rehabilitate youth recovering from drug abuse by giving them jobs.

Mr Mung’aro said the contest in Malindi was between those who wanted to be controlled by others and those who keen to chart  their own destiny.

“Philip Charo is your son. He is your servant. Do not elect someone else’s stooge,” he added.

Mr Duale asked residents to turn up in large numbers to back Mr Charo on March 7. 

Mr Ruto said there was no chance of Cord forming the next government as it lacks popular support.

Mr Charo said he represents change that the Malindi people need and that he would serve his people as a servant and not a master.

ODM CAMPAIGN

Meanwhile, the ODM team campaigning in Malindi for its candidate, Mr William Mtengo, on Monday called for a peaceful election and asked youth allied to the Opposition to keep the peace.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart, Mr Hassan Joho, warned that chaotic campaigns and violence would hurt tourism in Malindi, in particular, and the Coast, in general.

Addressing a news conference at the party’s office in Malindi, the governors said one of their campaigners was attacked on Sunday night by unknown people while on his way home.

They also condemned recent attacks on Jubilee supporters at Eden Rock Hotel.

Meanwhile, the Jubilee team led by Mr Sonko, accompanied by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ali Wario  held a meeting with business people.

Mr Sonko said the government would fulfil the promises it had made such as building infrastructure and creating jobs for youth.

PUBLIC RELATIONS EXERCISE

Monday, the national government launched a National Youth Service project for Malindi Town and recruited 1,300 youth from the constituency.

The launch, which was dismissed by Mr Kingi as a public relations exercise meant to hoodwink voters,  was conducted by new NYS boss Richard Ndubai.