We will win polls with landslide, says CORD

By Vincent Bartoo and Osinde Obare

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) yesterday took its campaigns to the North Rift where they exuded confidence of hitting 70 per cent support in the last week to the General Election.

 They backed the recent opinion poll results that have indicated they enjoy more than 50 per cent support saying they “were a true reflection of the reality on the ground”.

And they took a swipe at their rivals, the Jubilee Alliance, accusing its presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and running mate William Ruto of using the country as a shield against the ICC.

Economic prosperity

 Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka accused the two of rallying Kenyans behind them in a bid to ward off the cases facing them at The Hague.

“Our brothers in the Jubilee should stop using Kenyans in their predicament. Leaders should be servants of the people and not use them as shields,” said Kalonzo.

The VP further revealed how the Jubilee Alliance attempted to dupe him out of succession politics, saying after they failed, they went after their Plan B, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

“The trap that had fallen on Mudavadi was intended for me but I used a different approach to defeat their plan. Unfortunately, my brother fell for it,” he said.

Kalonzo said he declined an offer by Jubilee Alliance to become a statesman, a post he said was non-existent in the Constitution.

“They tried to lure me asking to turn right instead I turned left but my friend Musalia followed their instructions and he was trapped by their net,” he added.

Speaking at Kenyatta Stadium Kitale, the Mwingi North MP, however, said the CORD government would help Uhuru and Ruto to overcome their tribulations if they form the Government.

“We are ready to assist our brothers facing the cases at The Hague but they should stop luring the support from Kenyans to defeat justice,” he added.

Kalonzo termed this year’s General Election the most watched election in the world and Africa.

“The whole world and African leadership are giving much attention to Kenya’s polls but I assure that the election will be the true revolution and a bloodless poll based on policies and not ethnicity,” he said.

Drumming up campaigns for Raila, Kalonzo described the premier as a selfless and visionary leader committed to bringing reforms in the country to benefit Kenyans.

“Raila has what it takes to be the President. He has a clear vision for Kenyans and he is the right leader to succeed President Kibaki. I will campaign for Raila until he wins the elections,” said the VP.

The CORD government, he said, would bury tribalism and will free the country from economic challenges.

Raila assured Kenyans that the CORD government would ensure the full implementation of the Constitution in a bid to liberate Kenyans from economic woes.

He said his government would establish a revolving fund for the youth and women to help them secure grants to initiate business.

Raila said the leaders in the Jubilee Alliance could not be trusted with the Constitution since they were against its passage.

“Our opponents in the Jubilee were against the passage of the Constitution and they cannot be trusted with its implementation,” he said. He accused the Jubilee leadership of propagating propaganda that CORD government will impose taxes on landowners.

 “It is pure lies. We are not mad to impose tax of landowners. We will only tax idle and undeveloped land in commercial areas,” he said.

Raila said he was optimistic that CORD will win the election in the first round because majority of Kenyans are supporting the alliance due to its best policies.

“We have the best polices and CORD is committed to bring changes to liberate Kenyans from economic hardships. We urge Kenyans to support the alliance,” Raila said.

He assured residents of Trans-Nzoia that CORD government will establish a maize milling plant to help farmers embrace value addition and earn better income from their farming business.

He said the abandoned railway line will be revived and construction extended to Juba to boast trade between Kenyan and South Sudan.

Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula asked the rival alliance to accept the wishes of the Kenyans after the recent polls put CORD ahead of its rivals.

“Those convinced CORD will not win the first round are day dreamers. The alliance has put in place plans to win the elections in the first round,” he said.

Earlier on, Raila, Kalonzo and Wetangula used three choppers to criss-cross the county luring residents to support the alliance and pledged to transform the economy.

Raila addressed rallies in Kolongolo and Kapkoi trading centers in Kwanza district while Kalonzo pitched tents in Sibanga and Endebess. Wetangula addressed a rally in Kiminini in Saboti.