By Kepher Otieno
Fans of the new found- The National Alliance (TNA) party demonstrated peacefully along Oginga Odinga Street and Jomo Kenyatta highway in Kisumu in support of Presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta.
They moved round the town singing songs in favour of TNA riding on its clarion call Tunaweza! Tunaweza! Others sang Yote yawezakana na Uhuru as they extolled Uhuru as capable of succeeding President Kibaki.
Events coordinators Hesbon Omollo, John Oloo, Titus Achar, Mary Matengo, Juma Midigo, said the purpose was to create a memorable day that will be discussed for days and weeks to come as Kenyans approach the elections.
“We want to tell Kenyans the dawn of new era is here. We must rise and ride the wave of change. We believe in change and Uhuru stands for the change we need,’’ claimed Omollo.
Contrary to the belief that Nyanza is a reserved ODM zone, the TNA supporters told voters to shed off such ‘stereo type’ thinking arguing that times were changing and gone are the days of region’s political monopoly.
“We will advance our policies and work with whoever we feel represents our wishes and wants. We move away from old concepts that oooh central is Uhuru’s base…oooh Nyanza is Raila’s …base,’’ argued Omollo.
He said Kenyans must de-ethicise politics of tribal blocs if the country is to attain much hyped national unity as embodied in the National Anthem and preach peace, unity, reconciliation and cooperating amongst Kenyans.
This is why TNA has decided to come up with the satellites launch centres in select towns around the country to make its supporters happy and to let know that there is a serious Presidential contender in town, said Oloo.
He argued that it was not easy for the party, to bring all its supporters to Nairobi for the spectacular launch and that is why the Kisumu event had been organised to allow local TNA supporters, too, follow the development.
Big bill boards with TNA logo were mounted at vantage points in Kondele, Kibuye and other strategic centres.
The Nyanza TNA supporters appealed to the residents to back Uhuru’s bid for Presidency saying he stood for the generational change that Kenyans yearn for.
Police in plain clothes and uniforms stood on stand bye to deal with any possible attempts to disrupt the event but no hostilities were realised for the better part of the morning as the team’s went round uninterrupted.
The smooth TNA activities showed a fast maturing democracy in Nyanza and proved that the youth in the area hitherto feared for political violence were quickly heeding to leaders consistent appeals for peace to prevail.
Nyanza leaders led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga have been calling for peaceful co-existence among Kenyans and especially residents of Kisumu saying unity and peace was the inexorable call of the time.
The peace messages has seen the youth change their behaviour as elections approach.
