Kenya ripe for reformist Raila Odinga, Azimio leaders say

Azimio la Umoja Coalition team led by flag bearer Raila Odinga accompanied by Congolese Musician Mbilia Bel entertaining his supporters at Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega at a campaign rally on July 09, 2022. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition has described their presidential hopeful Raila Odinga a reformist whose time to lead the nation to economic freedom was 30 days away.

Presidential running mate Martha Karua, Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka, Cotu Secretary Francis Atwoli, CS Eugene Wamalwa and Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said Raila’s competitor William Ruto had a tainted reputation and was not fit to lead the country.  

They were speaking at Bukhungu Stadium Kakamega.

Karua said the country was at a crossroads and it needed a tried and tested and sober leader to steer it in the desired direction.

“Raila has been part of all the major reforms in the nation, he is the man behind all the major road constructions in the country. If given the chance to lead us he will easily reform the economy and bring down the cost of living,” she said.

“On the contrary, Ruto has no history to write home about save for a string of corruption."

Karua, who was touring Kakamega for the first time after being selected as Raila's deputy, said her selection was a gift to Kenyan women who ought to reciprocate the gesture by voting overwhelmingly for Azimio.

Musyoka endorsed Karua’s selection as a master stroke, saying Karua was an anti-graft leader who would help protect the constitution and fight for change.

“I sacrificed my presidential ambition to back Raila for a third consecutive time. Musalia Mudavdai (ANC) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-Kenya) left to join a corrupt alliance which was so corrupt that it failed to talk on how to fight graft as they launched their manifesto,” he said.

Defence CS Wamalwa who is also DAP-K patron said he was at the historic Bukhungu ground to affirm the region's Bukhungu II declaration which resolved to back a Raila presidency.

Wamalwa characterised Ruto as a temperamental leader who almost slapped him.

"He wanted to slap me for taking Luhya leaders to President Uhuru. He demanded to know why I bypassed him. I have forgiven him and moved on but such a temperamental leader is not the kind to sit in the State House," he said.

Atwoli who is the convener of the Bukhungu II event said the battle of who would give the majority votes to Raila had narrowed down to Mt Kenya region and Western, challenging the Mulembe Nation to do their best to beat the Central Kenya voters.

“The reality of things is that central Kenya is warming up to a Raila presidency at an alarming rate, and the truth is they can happen to give him more votes than you (Luhyas),” he said.

The sentiments were backed by former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth who predicted Raila would win the presidency with a landslide.

Azimio was in Kakamega three weeks after the Deputy President led Kenya Kwanza visit in the region which has overwhelmingly voted for Raila since 2007.

Ruto who will be in Kakamega this week, has promised Mudavadi and Wetang’ula 30 per cent of his government if they deliver at least 70 per cent of the region’s 2.3 million votes.

But Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Kakamega counterpart Oparanya said the deal Ruto signed with the duo was dead on arrival as the two leaders lacked capacity to deliver.

The governors paraded MPs Tindi Mwale (Butere), Ayub Savula (Lugari), Oscar Nabulindo (Matungu) Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Geoffrey Osotsi, Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Benard Shinali (Ikolomani) and Titus Khamala (Lurambi).

“Raila has a heart for the country's youth especially those in the Jua Kali sector. His government plans to give Certificate of Recognition of Prior Learning so that they could land government tenders,” said Joho.

When he took to the podium, Raila said he had spent a lot of time selling the Azimio manifesto to the country and he would not do it at Bukhungu but instead opted to champion for the election of Azimio candidates to parliament and county seats.

He called on Kakamega locals to vote for former KETRACO boss Fernandez Barasa to become Kakamega governor. 

“Malala is not pro-devolution and had contributed to the fall of Mumias Sugar company,” he said.

Governor Wilberforce Ottichilo (Vihiga) and Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma) said the country had witnessed unparalleled development under devolution which was championed by Raila.

The rally was equally attended by Congolese song bird Mbilia Bel who belted out tunes to entertain the residents who had turned up.