Opposition leader Raila Odinga and DP William Ruto step up campaigns ahead of polls

Deputy President William Ruto during the launch of Bungoma Youth League at the Posta Grounds, Bungoma, yesterday. CORD leader Raila Odinga asked voters to get ready to send the Jubilee leadership home in the next elections even as DP William Ruto drummed up support for Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration. (PHOTO: DPPS)

CORD leader Raila Odinga asked voters to get ready to send the Jubilee leadership home in the next elections even as Deputy President William Ruto drummed up support for Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.

As Raila addressed opposition supporters at Orengo Primary School in Bondo constituency yesterday where he said rampant corruption had taken the country down a dangerous path, the DP highlighted some of the key achievements of the Jubilee government, and said claims of corruption were unfounded.

CORD leader Raila Odinga has asked his supporters to get ready to send the Jubilee leadership home next year, even as Deputy President William Ruto campaigned for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election.

As Raila addressed Opposition supporters at Orengo Primary School in Bondo constituency yesterday where he said rampant corruption had taken the country down a dangerous path, the DP highlighted some of the key achievements of the Jubilee government, saying claims of corruption were unfounded.

Ruto said those stealing from the government had ganged up with the Opposition to paint Jubilee as corrupt after loopholes to steal from the public coffers were sealed.

Poor record

The DP told a women’s group in Matungu, Kakamega County, yesterday that Raila did little for Kenyans when he served as Prime Minister, and his frequent attacks on the government were to camouflage his poor development record.

“I want to ask those in the Opposition to tell the public what they did for the long period they were in government,” said Ruto at a funds drive.

He said Raila had nothing to show for his 20 years as a Cabinet minister, adding that former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi had collectively served in government for 30 years, but had no tangible development record to their names.

But Raila described the government as a failure and said the country was at a crossroads owing to runaway corruption and mismanagement of public resources.

“This government has totally failed Kenyans and we must make choices that will determine a better future for all of us,” he said.

Raila said Kenyans must remain united and be prepared to sweep to power in the next elections because the Jubilee administration will not be ready to cede power easily.

“We must come out as the people of Kenya and fight for change by registering as voters,” he said, adding that the Sh3 billion Afya House scandal, the NYS saga and the Eurobond controversy were indications that Jubilee was incapable of containing corruption perpetrated by State officers.

The former premier was supported by his brother, nominated MP Oburu Oginga, who said President Kenyatta and DP Ruto had demonstrated that they could not lead and must therefore be voted out of office.

Ruto met several leaders when he toured Western Kenya yesterday. Among leaders in his troop were MPs Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), former Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito and Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka.

Ruto said a technical training institute would be built in Namberekeya. He said land had already been bought and Sh100 million will be set aside in the next financial year for the project. The DP asked residents to join Jubilee and work towards building the country.

The host MP, David Were, announced that he would defend his seat on a Jubilee ticket.

Were, who was elected on a United Democratic Front (UDF) ticket in 2013, said he was the longest serving legislator in Kakamega County and asked his rivals to brace themeselves for a bruising battle.

Writing off debts

He urged the Government to ask Mumias Sugar Company to write off debts it is owed by sugarcane farmers because the growers were now shifting to other crops.

His sentiment was shared by his Mumias East counterpart Ben Washiali, who said while the Government had intervened to stop Mumias Sugar from folding, it needs to inject more funds to the company so that its operations can fully stabilise.

Former ODM national youth chairman Rashid Mohamed called for the disbandment of the current Mumias Sugar Company Board, claiming it could not account for the Sh3.2 billion the national government released to pay farmers.