Raila and Joho oppose Naivasha port plan

Orange Democratic Movement presidential candidate Raila Odinga has opposed the plan by the Jubilee administration to construct a dry port in Naivasha.

Addressing a rally in Kinango in Kwale on Saturday, Mr Odinga said the idea was aimed at sabotaging Mombasa's economy.

“The port of Mombasa will die because of the SGR (standard gauge railway), all the containers will be transported to Naivasha using the railway,” he said, adding that many people will be left jobless in Mombasa as major services like clearing and forwarding will be done in Naivasha at the expense of the coastal people.

The National Super Alliance co-principal claimed the land on which the dry port will be constructed belongs to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s relatives. Mr Odinga also said the Jubilee administration had failed to provide security to Kenyans who had been left at the mercy of criminals.

'NO WORD'

“Kenyans are crying wherever we go, they are suffering. Nine people have been butchered by al-Shabaab in Lamu and there’s been no word from the government,” he said.

“Maize floor, sugar, bus fair, cooking oil prices are too high. The donkey is tired,” he said.

He downplayed the defection of key ODM MPs to the Jubilee Party, saying their defections are inconsequential.

“Jubilee claims Kwale their entry point after getting Governor Salim Mvurya and Zainab Chidzuga. Kwale is not a Jubilee zone. I held their hands and brought them to you. Let them go with the losing Jubilee government,” he told the crowd, referring to Governor Mvurya and Woman Representative Chidzuga..

'NOT AFRAID'

“Jubilee stole my votes in 2013. But Kenyans now know them better, they are thieves who will be sent home. We are not afraid of election but we need a level playing ground. We must remove the stumps, thorns and other things from the field to have it level,” he said.

Mr Odinga pledged that during the first 100 days of his government, the cost of living will come down.

“When we take over after August 8, there will be no fees from Class One to Form Four. This is a Nasa promise, not Jubilee’s. They promised laptops, roads and jobs for youth but none was fulfilled.

We want all our votes cast. In 2013 only 65 per cent of votes in the coast were cast while in our opponents, 95 per cent were cast” he said.

COASTAL REGION

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho said that the establishment of the dry port in Naivasha would “kill” the economy of the coastal region.

“Such a move will definitely create an employment crisis in the coast region,” said Mr Joho, adding that he will continue fighting for the rights of his people.

He said that the inland container terminal will transfer key services to Naivasha causing massive job losses in Mombasa.

Mr Joho further urged Kwale residents to turn out in large numbers on August 8 and vote for the Nasa government.

“The time to take Jubilee home and have a government that is sensitive and responsive to the plight of Kenyans is now, to eliminate corruption, deal with historical injustices, social injustice and human rights,” he said.