Cord and Jubilee pitch camp in Malindi as supporters throng town

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga at Alaskan Grounds urges residents to vote for ODM candidate William Mtengo on March 2, 2016. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Malindi was bathed in orange, the colour of ODM, and Mr Ruto’s arrival added red and yellow, colours for Jubilee, as supporters of both sides thronged the town centre.

  • Mr Ruto, who arrived shortly after 2.30pm, is expected to be in the constituency until Saturday. He was accompanied by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale.

  • Mr Odinga, the Orange Democratic Movement leader, has been drumming up support for the party’s candidate William Mtengo.

The Malindi Constituency by-election was Wednesday shaping into a bruising battle, with Deputy President William Ruto landing in the tourist resort town where opposition leader Raila Odinga has camped since Monday.

Malindi was bathed in orange, the colour of ODM, and Mr Ruto’s arrival added red and yellow, colours for Jubilee, as supporters of both sides thronged the town centre.

Mr Ruto, who arrived shortly after 2.30pm, is expected to be in the constituency until Saturday. He was accompanied by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale. 

Mr Odinga, the Orange Democratic Movement leader, has been drumming up support for the party’s candidate William Mtengo.

He has been holding meetings with target groups and rallies in the company of Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Ali Joho and a number of opposition MPs.  

Mr Odinga and the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) team addressed a rally at Alaskan Grounds. Mr Ruto campaigned for Jubilee candidate Philip Charo in Karisa, where the opposition team held a rally two days ago.

SECURITY

Addressing journalists earlier, Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa said regular and GSU police officers would be deployed in the constituency before and on the voting day.

“They will be in every ward,” he said at the deputy county commissioner’s office.

He added that rapid response teams would be on standby.

“Security agents will flood this constituency like locusts,” he said as he warned youths “who have been transported to town by some politicians”.

He said an ODM ward representative from Magarini was being sought to answer questions on what he had been planning with groups of youths “some of whom have been transported from Siaya and Kisumu”.

He announced that football matches and tournaments in the constituency had been cancelled until after the election.

Mr Odinga dismissed Mr Marwa, saying his position as the coast regional coordinator was illegal, adding that he was being used by the Jubilee administration to intimidate citizens.

He also criticised the deputy president, saying he had no moral authority to speak on land issues “because Jubilee are land thieves”.

Mr Odinga met church leaders at Red Cross Social Hall.

The campaign for the Jubilee candidate is being spearheaded by Cord rebel MPs Gideon Munga’ro, Mustapha Idd, Khatib Mwashetani, Gonzi Rai and Kwale Woman Rep Zainab Chidzuga.

The team, which has been conducting door-to-door campaigns, yesterday addressed rallies in Jilore, Malindi Town, Shella and Kakuyuni. Mr Rai said their new strategy had borne fruits

On his arrival, Mr Ruto met with local leaders at the VIP Lodge. His convoy then made for Karima grounds.

He dismissed the opposition as propagandists and accused Cord of perpetuating politics of hate, animosity and disunity.

Other candidates are Mr David Mangi (Shirikisho Party), Mr Reuben Katana  (Kadu-Asili), Mr Attas Shariff and Peter Ponda (CCU).

Mr Katana said Jubilee and ODM candidates were in for a rude shock as he would win the poll, because he was the only one with the interests of the residents at heart.

Reported by Charles Lwanga, Kazungu Samuel, Daniel Nyassy and Njeri Rugene.