Raila: I will make Uhuru a one-term head of state

CORD leader Raila Odinga has said the Opposition is determined to make Uhuru Kenyatta a one-term president.

Raila said the President should prepare to go home in August because the Opposition was determined to make changes in State House.

Speaking in Siaya and Kisumu counties where he rallied residents to register as voters, the ODM leader told the Jubilee Party leadership to be ready to face a well-oiled Opposition campaign machine.

And in a Busia County rally, he strongly hinted that he would be the Opposition's presidential flag-bearer in the August polls.

The former Prime Minister said seasoned leaders like himself boasted the massive experience required to lead the nation.

Addressing residents at Busia Polytechnic yesterday, Raila likened himself to newly elected Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo, saying they were both age mates (72) and seasoned politicians.

"The people of Ghana preferred Akufo-Addo against his predecessor John Mahama despite his age, meaning people value veteran leaders," he said.

Raila claimed that elections had been stolen many times in Ghana but the wishes of the people had prevailed in the long run. He challenged Kenyans to put up a spirited fight to remove Jubilee.

He said the Opposition was ready to borrow a  leaf from the West African country, adding that sending Uhuru home after one term was possible.

In Ghana, he said, former President Mahama insisted on a manual back-up system in the elections but was still defeated by Akufo-Addo.

Mahama lost the December 7 elections with over one million votes difference.

Winning formula

Raila said Akufo-Addo had shared his winning formula after he won twice and was rigged out before finally winning by an undisputed margin.

"The Opposition campaign is like the mighty Nile River, flowing forcefully towards the sea. No one can divert its course," he said.

Speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta grounds in Kisumu, Raila said the Opposition was not afraid of Jubilee's insistence on a manual system during the elections but warned of dire consequences against any attempts to rig the elections.

He said the Opposition was closely monitoring Jubilee Party operations, claiming that their friends in the Government had already discovered tricks the ruling coalition had allegedly put in place to rig the elections.

"We have learnt Jubilee's election intrigues and we have put in place adequate measures to avert possible any rigging loopholes," the ODM leader said.

He said the Opposition would do everything to ensure that none of the votes cast were rigged.

"Do not be afraid of the laws they changed. We will not allow them to rig elections this time."

He added: "The Jubilee government thinks the manual back-up will help them cheat but it is not going to happen. We are watching their every step."

Raila said the Opposition was countering every intended move by Jubilee to manipulate the outcome of the polls. For example, he said, the Opposition has appointed a team of 60 youths at each polling station to man the polling booths until the final results are broadcast.

"Rigging begins at voter registration, where the Government does not deploy enough kits in Opposition strongholds to enable more people to register as voters," said Raila.

Faulty kits

He claimed the Government had deployed several faulty BVR kits only in regions perceived to be Opposition strongholds while doing everything in their power to ensure that few people registered as voters in those areas.

On the day of voting, he said, chaos was usually created in certain regions to stop people from casing their votes.

"The other stage is when the votes are being counted but we will ensure that our votes are not stolen this time," he said.

Raila said the last stage of rigging is when the Independent Electoral and Boundaries commission (IEBC) is announcing the winner of the elections.

"We have put measures in place to stop Jubilee from manipulating the elections at all stages."

While many expected him to lead the Opposition in mass action when he returned from Ghana to protest against the decision to have a complementary manual voting system, he instead called for mass voter listing.

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Meanwhile, both Deputy President William Ruto and Raila head for Migori today to test their popularity in the cosmopolitan county.

Coming days after they clashed over control of Nairobi politics, the two leaders will make whistle-stop tours of the county to mobilise their respective supporters to register as voters.

Sources told The Standard Ruto would concentrate on Kuria East and Kuria West constituencies while Raila would address residents in Nyatike and Sirare along the Kenya-Tanzania border.

Before heading for Migori, Raila is expected to rally voter registration in Nyamira and Kisii counties.