Aspirants in mad rush to ‘inherit’ Meru bloc votes

By FRANCIS NGIGE

With President Kibaki out of the picture, Meru is becoming attractive to presidential aspirants keen on ‘inheriting’ the populous support base.

The hopefuls are leaving nothing to chance as they seek numbers that may favourably tilt the vote in their favour when elections are called.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka briefs journalists in Iten. Earlier, he visited Meru to popularise the Wiper Democratic Movement party. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

To indicate how important the region is, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who have previously made trips to Meru, last weekend pitched tent in the region as they sought support.

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A fence separated their weekend meetings, with Raila meeting ODM delegates at Guest Villa in Kithooka, while Kalonzo was addressing a meeting metres away at Ripples International Centre.

Participants from the two functions could hear what was happening on the other side.

Raila was on a two-day tour of the region to woe voters who have previously shunned him the two times he has vied for president. On his part, Kalonzo, who was opening a girls’ rescue centre, appeared to be using Kibaki’s good relationship with the Ameru to convince them to vote for him.

Noting that he was the right person to carry on with Kibaki’s legacy, Kalonzo said as VP, he was in a better position to fit in the President’s shoes.

Other hopefuls who have visited the region in the recent past include Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and his Lugari counterpart Cyrus Jirongo.

There has been talk the front-runners in the presidential race may opt to take a Meru politician as a running mate since it is among the relatively large communities not interested in the presidency.

Looking east

With Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi having cut ties with Raila in ODM, it is thought the premier could decide to look East as he headhunts a running mate.

During the tour hosted by Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara, Raila appeared ready to go a step further by incorporating people from the region in his circle. "I have been a friend of the Meru people for a long time. In the struggle for the second liberation, we teamed up with Meru politicians like Imanyara to bring change," he told a meeting in Meru town.

Buoyed by the impressive attendance at the rallies, Raila used the occasion to castigate formation of tribal groupings such as Gema and Kamatusa.

And with nearly all MPs from Meru opposing the revival of Gema, Raila criticised politicians hoping to gain from endorsements by tribal groupings.

"Talking about Gema and Kamatusa in the 21st century is taking the country back to the dark days. Those of us interested in the presidency must talk about ideologies not tribes," said Raila.

In the PM’s entourage was his wife Ida and son Fidel who also addressed the meetings. At one stop in Meru town where PM opened a Friends of Raila (Fora) office, Ida recounted how she suffered together with Imanyara’s wife Florence, who was also present.

She told the gathering how the two families suffered when Raila and Imanyara were in detention during the clamour for pluralism.

"During the second liberation struggle, families of the political detainees were traumatised and suffered in equal measure. I remember when I visited Imanyara’s wife and police dispersed us saying we were holding an illegal meeting," said Ida.

Imanyara’s wife said: "We know Raila did not come from a poor family and was not detained because he was fighting his own battle. He was doing it for the country and we are now enjoying the fruits".

Despite claims he had been warned against hosting Raila, Imanyara remained defiant, saying he would not be cowed to abandon "my comrade in the struggle".

"Whether they intimidate me or threaten me with death, I will not support the candidate they want. Those thinking that they will change my resolve are day dreamers," said Imanyara. He added he would support Raila’s bid since he was the "only reformer remaining among those seeking the presidency".

"My choice is clear. I have made up my mind that my vote is for Raila. I have known him for a long time and I cannot abandon him," said Imanyara. Last week, Imanyara stunned Parliament when he claimed armed men had accosted him and forced him to declare support for Uhuru’s bid.

Call for peace

Kalonzo, who was making his umpteenth visit to the region, spoke of the need for Kenyans to sustain peace ahead of the elections.

"I know this region has voted for Kibaki overwhelmingly and now having been the VP, there is no need to look far for another person to continue with the President’s good work," said Kalonzo.

Those accompanying the VP showered him with praises, saying he helped cool down the political situation in 2007 when post-election violence started. Kalonzo hurried into forming a coalition with Kibaki when results of the bungled elections sparked violence and was named Vice-President.

He received accolades from Tigania East MP Peter Munya and his Imenti North counterpart Silas Muriuki for being among "sober politicians in the country."