Uhuru tours CORD's turf to woo supporters

President Uhuru Kenyatta (second left, facing camera) at State Lodge in Kakamega town for Iftar prayers. With him are Deputy President William Ruto (right), Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale (second right), Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala (left), Leader of Majority in the Senate Kithure Kindiki (right, back on camera) and Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku. [Photo: PSCU]

KAKAMEGA COUNTY: President Uhuru Kenyatta was warmly welcomed in Kakamega Town on a mission to woo the Western region to support the Jubilee Government.

The president led top Government officials in a visit to the CORD stronghold.

President Kenyatta for the first time spent a night at the neglected State Lodge in Milimani Estate of Kakamega town as he joined the Muslim community for Iftar prayers.

In well-choreographed speeches meant to lure Western Kenya Muslim community into supporting Jubilee Government, speaker after speaker reassured them that they were part of the Government through numerous appointments in the Cabinet as well as in other positions.

Uhuru was accompanied by his Deputy President William Ruto, Leader of Majority in the National assembly Aden Duale and his Senate counterpart Kithure Kindiki, cabinet secretaries Najib Balala, Joseph ole Lenku, Michael Kamau, and MPs from the region.

The President promised to initiate development projects that would benefit residents of Kakamega County.

On Saturday morning, the President hosted delegations organised by a section of MPs from the region at the State Lodge and later addressed residents of Kakamega town at the Total Petrol station along the Kakamega-Webuye highway.

He later attended the burial of the late Harrison Makaka Okang'a at Eshisiru village along Kakamega-Mumias highway. Okang'a was the pilot of the ill-fated Somali-bound aircraft that killed four people in Nairobi. The late pilot was a brother of Jeff Okang'a, Kenya's High Commissioner to Uganda.

The President then went to inspect the Kisumu-Kakamega road where he warned contractors who fail to perform.

He asked residents of Western to reconcile their political differences and refrain from being incited against the Government.

"Our intention is to unite the country because we are a republic that respects all tribes, religions and races. We must all live together and in an environment of peace for the prosperity of every citizen," said Uhuru.

"In Kakamega, you elected CORD to run the affairs of the county. And you did not commit any mistake for doing that. But as a government, we cannot serve Kenyans when all the time there are political activities intended to cause wrangles and create a lot of unnecessary noise," said Uhuru.

He said engaging in political banter would not eradicate the problems of hunger, poor infrastructure and lack of jobs.

He also promised residents that the road projects that had been started would be completed to open up the region for commerce.

"The Navakholo-Bungoma road will be constructed to ease the transportation of goods and services along that route," he said.

He also assured residents of Busia that the water project being built in Mumias at a cost of Sh1.5 billion would soon be completed and that he would personally be at hand to launch the project when the time comes.

President Uhuru also made a commitment that in the next three years, no parent would be required to pay fees in both public primary and secondary schools in order to cater for children from poor backgrounds.

He noted that his government had already scrapped the registration fees for candidates sitting national examinations.

"Also, in as much as the health docket has been devolved and it is now the responsibility of the governor, I will work with the County Government of Kakamega to ensure there are enough medical equipment. I will ensure there are dialysis machines and X-ray equipment at the Kakamega County General Hospital so that you will not have to travel long distances for medical care," assured the President.

Sonko in his brief address to the residents of Kakamega castigated those who insulted the government in an apparent reference to CORD leader Raila Odinga, a move that angered a section of the crowd.

Local leaders who attended the president's meetings include Deputy Governor Philip Kutima, MPs Johnson Naicca (Mumias West), Emanuel Wagwe (Navakholo), Ayub Savula (Lugari), Raphael Otaalo (Lurambi), Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), Alfred Agoi (Sabatia), Suleiman Murunga (Kimilili), Senator Billow Kerrow (Mandera) and MCAs, among other leaders.