Raila: Election date will be known soon
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has given a strong indication that the General Election will be held this year.
Mr Odinga said the country should leave it to the two principals to decide after the court ruled that their dissolving of the coalition could lead to an election. (READ: Early polls up to you, judges tell Kibaki and Raila)
In the alternative, the expiry of Parliament’s term will automatically lead to an election, but in March next year.
“I have an idea when the elections will be held but I will not say it today. We will announce it soon.
“Personally, I would like to see elections held this year,” Mr Odinga said in response to speakers at a political rally who were pressing him on the matter.
The PM spoke when he met ODM delegates from Mwingi, Kitui, Machakos and Makueni regions who were recently elected during the party’s grassroots elections.
Speakers at the meeting held in Machakos Town said they would like a delegates conference held in Nairobi as opposed to calls made by party deputy leader Musalia Mudavadi to take the nomination of the party flagbearer to the counties.
Cabinet ministers William Ntimama, Joseph Nyaga, Dalmas Otieno and Machakos ODM county chairman Peter Mutulu said there was no need to subject the party to a tedious electoral process within the counties.
“There is something going on that we are told is democracy within the party hierarchy.
“Mr PM, in Ukambani we have decided that you are the presidential torch bearer and whoever is not comfortable with this decision should just swallow his pride,” Mr Mutulu said.
The official said Mr Odinga should be given a clean ticket to vie for the presidency.
“In the US, the Democratic Party is not going through primaries because President Obama is in office and will automatically be the flag bearer. ODM should do likewise,” he said.
The former Kenya National Union of Teachers national treasurer said all opinion polls have shown the PM remains the most popular presidential candidate and questioned what ODM hoped to achieve by subjecting him to a party nomination process.
Mr Ntimama and The Independent Party (TIP) leader Kalembe Ndile said the country was ripe to have a new president from a region that has not produced one before.
“The late President Kenyatta ruled for 15 years, his predecessor Daniel Moi ruled for 24 years, it is just honourable for the next president to come from another region,” Mr Ntimama said.
Mr Ndile faulted Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka for hinting last week that he was ready to abandon his presidential ambition in favour of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto if the situation demanded.
“We thought that the VP was bold enough to face the challenges ahead, we feel let down by his statement, and now that he appears to be abandoning his presidential mission, Raila Odinga is our man,” said Mr Ndile.
He caused laughter when he asked to be incorporated into ODM’s top organ, the Pentagon.
In his address, Mr Odinga said the country faces grave challenges in the years ahead that would require focused and visionary leadership.
“Education, food, healthcare, infrastructure expansion, industrialisation and energy are some of the challenges the country will have to deal with to spur growth and create jobs,” he said.
The PM said the challenges are daunting and electioneering debate ought to focus on how to ensure those challenges are met.
“Debate ought to focus on where Kenya needs to be and who has the best vision and the commitment to get it there.”
