Change of poll date ‘will not happen’

President Uhuru Kenyatta Tuesday dismissed sustained calls by the Opposition to have elections postponed.

Campaigning in Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa counties, the President said Kenyans were ready for elections as set out by the Constitution, and every attempt to sabotage the law would be roundly rejected.

“It won’t happen,” the President said. “Kenyans are ready and their will will not be subverted.”

The Head of State continued: “We want to give a declaration from this ground in Ukunda that let them (NASA) go round all the places they want, but on August 8 Kenyans will go to the polls and elect leaders that they want.”

The National Super Alliance (NASA) wants the elections postponed in the event that the High Court finds that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has not put in place a complementary system to the electronic voter identification and transmission of results.

An agitated Uhuru said that NASA was not ready for elections and was only employing delaying tactics and “shenanigans so as to enter the Government through the back door.”

He claimed NASA had filed many cases in court to derail IEBC even after forcing out its commissioners last year.

“I said it that they are not for elections and want to have Government through the back door... and by the way we are not ready for that,” he said echoing earlier sentiments by his deputy William Ruto who asked NASA to focus on the 2022 polls.

“They have raised many questions and have now gone to court to stop elections. If they are not ready let us give Uhuru his five years then wait for me to teach them a lesson in 2022,” said Mr Ruto.

During the campaigns, Uhuru cited issuance of 300,000 title deeds and expansion of Mombasa port as among Jubilee’s measures to improve the coastal economy.

Resettle squatters

The President said that Kwale County had benefited from 40,000 of 300,000 title deeds issued at the Coast under the Jubilee administration’s plan to resettle squatters.

He added that his administration had prioritised infrastructural projects like the construction of new ports to create jobs and improve the economy to uplift the coast region.

The Head of State issued 1,800 new title deeds in Shimoni and commissioned the tarmacking of Samburu-Kinango and Lungalunga-Vanga roads among other projects.

“We have issued more than 300,000 title deeds in the Coast region. This is the first step in enriching people,” said Uhuru after his deputy William Ruto had said that “the solution is to give people titles for their land”.

The President said the Government’s plan to construct new ports would create thousands of jobs.

Another port

“We are constructing another port in Shimoni and we will be sending customs and immigration officials to help our people conduct legal business. In March 2018, the first ship will dock at the Lamu port, all these projects are aimed at creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of our people,” said Uhuru in Ukunda.

The President also cited the construction of the Dongo Kundu bypass where the Government intends to put up an industrial park as another project that would create many jobs.

Addressing supporters in Shimoni and Ukunda in Kwale, the President accused Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho of making careers out of insulting him.

Since his arrival at the Coast on Sunday, Uhuru has accused the two governors of sabotaging him and heaped praises on Kwale’s Salim Mvurya who ditched the Orange Democratic Movement for Jubilee last year. But the two governors have been unrelenting in criticising him.