Uhuru in Kisumu as Raila heads for Malindi campaign

President Uhuru Kenyatta flags off Armoured Personnel Carriers which he commissioned for the Kenya Police Service at G.S.U. Headquarters in Ruaraka. The President will preside over the official opening of the regional headquarters of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Mamboleo. PHOTO | WILLIAM OERI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Orange Democratic Movement director of elections Junet Mohammed confirmed that Mr Odinga and other coalition chiefs will arrive at the Coast tomorrow and hold a rally in Msambweni, Kwale County.
  • ODM Chairman John Mbadi said the Orange party will do its best to ensure a clear win in the high staked Malindi parliamentary by-elections.

President Uhuru Kenyatta will this weekend open a church headquarters at Cord leader Raila Odinga’s Kisumu backyard.

The President will preside over the official opening of the regional headquarters of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Mamboleo, while Mr Odinga will lead a Cord entourage to mobilise Malindi voters to elect the coalition’s candidate, Mr Willy Mtengo.

This will be his sixth visit to Kisumu since his election and the third church event he will be attending in the county.

He was in the town in April last year for the second devolution conference hosted by the Council of Governors; a meeting that coincided with the launch of NYS projects at Nyalenda slums.

The President returned on June 29, for the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Kisumu Catholic Archdiocese at Uzima University.

Two months later, he attended the closing ceremony of the National Music Festivals at the Kisumu State Lodge; and also attend a fundraiser in aid of the Anglican Church.

On Thursday, Governor Jack Ranguma said the county will use the opportunity this weekend to compare notes with the Head of State on the progress of development issues they had discussed in earlier visits.

“We are enthusiastic that the visit will enable us chat the way forward on some of the things we had set rolling in collaboration with the national government. We ask residents of Kisumu to join hands with us like they have always done and welcome the President,” Mr Ranguma said.

The governor said Kisumu must count itself lucky that they have had a fairer share of the President’s ear with the many visits.

THE GAMES BEGIN
As the President planned to head to Kisumu, Orange Democratic Movement director of elections Junet Mohammed confirmed that Mr Odinga and other coalition chiefs will arrive at the Coast tomorrow and hold a rally in Msambweni, Kwale County, on Sunday and later travel to Kilifi to campaign for the Malindi candidate.

ODM has retained several seats in past by-elections, including one in Kajiado Central, where it trounced Jubilee. It also wrestled the Mathare parliamentary seat from TNA through Mr Stephen Kariuki, who has lately been missing in action from many ODM activities.

“We are taking the Malindi by-elections seriously as a party and as a coalition. We are moving to the ground together because we believe this is a seat we must retain,” Mr Mohammed said.

The coalition bigwigs will accompany Mr Mtengo to the electoral commission offices to present his papers before holding a rally in Malindi town on Monday morning.

“Governors Amason Kingi (Kilifi) and Hassan Joho (Mombasa) have taken charge of the Malindi campaigns and have been driving campaigns in villages and markets to ensure our victory is retained,” Mr Mohammed said.

ODM Chairman John Mbadi said the Orange party will do its best to ensure a clear win in the high staked Malindi parliamentary by-elections.