Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Raila urges support for ODM poll winners


Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged losers in the ODM nominations to support winners even as he told opponents to prepare for a major battle ahead of the March 4 General Election.
The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) presidential candidate leader exuded confidence of the alliance’s win in the polls.
Speaking at Wilson Airport on his way for a series of rallies in Makueni County Tuesday, Mr Odinga who was accompanied by Education minister Mutula Kilonzo and former MPs Johnstone Muthama and Philip Kaloki urged the electoral body to punish candidates bribing voters.
“We should reject those who want to buy leadership using bribery,” Mr Odinga, who promised an issue based campaign said.
Mr Odinga denied that violence witnessed during the ODM nominations in three counties in Nyanza would hurt his presidential bid.
“The violence were isolated and unfortunate but we want to put it behind us and move forward,” Mr Odinga said,
He accused the media of only focusing on Nyanza during the nominations yet there were also chaos in Central and Rift Valley.
“The challenges witnessed in the primaries were countrywide but the media showed bias to give advantage to some parties,” Mr Odinga said.
The PM said ODM encountered challenges in three out of the 47 counties in the nominations and that three other counties in Nyanza were not affected.
The Cord flagbearer regretted the violence saying the disputes in Migori, Homa Bay and Kisumu counties had been resolved and that candidates for the areas were nominated through consensus that should please majority of supporters.
“We should now join hands and move forward. We are ready for the gigantic battle ahead. Now the game has started. Our competitors should be ready for tough battle. We are sure Cord will win come March 4,” the PM said.
The PM said his support and that of Cord cuts across the country and that violence during the primaries would not eat into his support.
“My political base is not in Nyanza. I’m representing a constituency in Nairobi but my support is countrywide. I have support in Coast, North Eastern, Central, Rift Valley, Eastern and Western.
He said the fierce competition for the ODM ticket showed democracy is advancing in the country and that Kenyans want change.
He congratulated all those who sought the ODM ticket and winners and losers including from other parties for “helping shape our nation".
“The losers in Cord should now work closely with the winners to deliver victory on March 4. Those who lost should join hands in campaigning for our victory,” the PM said.
Mr Odinga vouched for peaceful campaigns devoid of name calling.
“We urge for calm now that the primaries are over. Elections and nominations should never divide us or make us go to war. The polls should help strengthen our democracy. We urge for peace in the final round of the campaigns,” the PM said.
He said candidates should focus on what is good for the country and mobilise votes on national and not tribal agenda.
Mr Odinga also called for an enabling environment for female candidates and the youth to campaign.
“As Cord we will continue to campaign peacefully. We will not attack personalities but address issues,” he said.
He said Cord abandoned joint nominations for affiliate parties in cosmopolitan areas as had earlier been agreed to allow democracy and that competition among its candidates will be friendly.

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