Raila begins tour of western Kenya
A crowd waiting for Cord leader Raila Odinga at Manyula market in Kakamega on September 5, 2016. PHOTO | LINET WAFULA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Odinga, who will be accompanied by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, is scheduled to address a series of roadside meetings in Butere and Khwisero constituencies on the first day of his tour of the county.
- He will use the tour to try and parry away an onslaught by a group of MPs campaigning to entrench the Jubilee Party in the region.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga on Monday kicked off his five-day tour of Kakamega County in a bid to consolidate support in the western region ahead of next year’s polls.
Mr Odinga, who will be accompanied by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, is scheduled to address a series of roadside meetings in Butere and Khwisero constituencies on the first day of his tour of the county.
On Monday morning, Mr Odinga met MPs, ward representatives and elders from Butere and Khwisero constituencies at the Kisa Homes Guest House before addressing his first rally to take place at Manyula market.
Mr Odinga's tour of Kakamega is significant due to the overwhelming support he received from voters in the region in the 2013 polls.
He will use the tour to try and parry away an onslaught by a group of MPs campaigning to entrench the Jubilee Party in the region.
The MPs, led UDF’s Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), have stepped up campaigns to prepare the ground for President Uhuru Kenyatta's visit to western.
Mr Washiali said voters in western region were tired of being in the cold by supporting the Opposition and stood to benefit by working with the Jubilee government.
But Mr Oparanya has told residents of the region to remain firmly in ODM and back Mr Odinga, saying he is the best suited to give the country a new beginning if he clinches the presidency in 2017.
