Raila spends a night at Sangare Hills to honour Kibaki

Azimio la Umoja Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga being prayed for by St. Peter's ACK Church clergymen  [Mose Sammy, Standard]

 Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga has exuded confidence that leaders affiliated to his political team in Mt Kenya region will deliver the votes for him.

Speaking at ACK St Peters Cathedral in Nyeri yesterday, the ODM leader reminded locals of his relationship with former President Mwai Kibaki and President Uhuru Kenyatta, and vowed to cement the third and fourth presidents’ legacies.

“I assisted Kibaki to fulfil his projects and after the handshake with the President (Uhuru), the Jubilee government has done well. Uhuru took over from Kibaki, and having worked with the two leaders, I will ensure continuity,” said Mr Odinga.

He said his political detractors had in 2002 thought he committed a political suicide, warning that Kibaki could not be elected by Luo community.

“But 98.5 per cent of total registered voters voted Kibaki and members of Agikuyu community referred to me as mutongoria njamba (brave leader) and broke the infamous remarks that leadership will never go beyond Chania,” he said.

Mr Odinga said Kenyans had never been divided along tribal lines, adding that it was a creation of the elite to achieve political goals. “The differences between my father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and the founding father was political, not tribal,” he said.

He defended his policies over claims by Deputy President Dr William Ruto that it would be impossible to implement them.

Having served in government as Prime Minister in the grand coalition in 2008 to 2013, he said he knew where the money was. “My Baba care programme, the social welfare protection fund and the single parent mothers programme will be implemented with the monies lost through corruption. I will seal the loopholes to ensure Kenyans have money in their pockets, as well as good health,” said Mr Odinga.

Several leaders accompanied Mr Odinga, who had slept at Sangare Hills in Kieni after Kibaki’s burial in Othaya on Saturday. “I decided to sleep in Nyeri in respect to Kibaki and then worship at ACK before attending a golf tournament at Nyeri golf club to commemorate Kibaki, who was also a patron of Nyeri club.”

Mr Odinga later met with Nyeri businessmen at Kagumo Teachers Training College.

At Sangare Hills, Mr Odinga met with some Jubilee members to accompany him in political meetings in the Mt Kenya region. The leaders who accompanied Mr Odinga assured him that they will deliver all the votes from the region in his basket and urged the electorate to vote wisely in August polls.

With Mr Odinga were Narc-Kenya party leader Ms Martha Karua, former Gatanga MP Mr Peter Kenneth, Azimio executive director Mr Raphael Tuju, MPs Mr Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri town), Mr Kanini Kega (Kieni), Nyeri Senator Mr Ephraim Maina, Murang’a Woman Rep Ms Sabina Chege, and Mathioya’s Mr Peter Kimari.

They urged the electorate to chose Mr Odinga, as he represents the future and protection of resources. “Raila has agreed to sit and plan with us on his government, but (Deputy President Dr William) Ruto is planning on behalf of his followers. We must be cautious on who to vote,” said Mr Wambugu.

Ms Karua challenged Mt Kenya region to see a leader in Mr Odinga, who, she said, had been defending their rights and sacrificed for the country despite Kenyans rejecting him on the ballot. “He has been a patriot and Kenyans have a responsibility to elect people of integrity, failure to which we shall complain all through our lives,” she said.