It’s fair share of pie for all in our fold, vows Raila
Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga yesterday assured all political parties in Azimio coalition that their interests would be catered for without bias if he wins the August 9 presidential race..
Raila, who took his campaigns to the Western region promised a range of goodies for residents if he is elected the fifth Head of State in August.
Speaking at Sossa Cottages in Hamisi, he said everyone in Azimio will be taken care of without feeling mistreated.
Although he steered clear of the controversial zoning of regions in favour of big parties, he said he will ensure all partners in Azimio are treated fairly.
“Azimio is a big house and we have many children who must be taken care of. I have not come here as an ODM presidential candidate but as an Azimio La Umoja flag bearer. We have our partners, who form Azimio, and their interests will be catered for,” said Raila.
He was responding to Vihiga Senator George Khaniri’s zoning concerns within the Azimio coalition. Khaniri is vying for the Vihiga governor seat on United Democratic Party (UDP) and he asked Raila to ensure all candidates vying for various seats on Azimio parties are treated equally.
Raila, who has already offered key positions to leaders from Western region, received a warm reception when his helicopter landed at Sossa Cottages where he addressed his supporters.
Treasury docket
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who he has promised the Treasury docket, Ken Marende, who is to be Senate Speaker if Raila wins, and Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, rallied the voters in the region to vote for Raila.
The leaders said it was a great honour to the Western region for Raila to give them key positions in his government. They said Raila had offered them big positions without conditions, unlike their opponents in Kenya Kwanza who have been asked to deliver 70 per cent of votes for them to qualify for 30 per cent of government slots.
“Raila has promised key positions of Finance and Senate Speaker without conditions. In Kenya Kwanza our brothers Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula have been given the condition of delivering 70 per cent of the votes for them to qualify for 30 per cent government slots,” they said.
Marende welcomed the promised post saying he was ready to occupy it. “I want to tell our incoming fifth president Raila Odinga that I will do better than I did when I was National Assembly Speaker. I will put in place proper checks and balances to ensure the government runs smoothly,” said Marende, amid, “order, order” chants from the excited supporters.
Oparanya said it would be a great honour to the Mulembe nation to have him serve as a Treasury CS, adding that he has the needed experience to handle the docket.
Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi, who is in charge of Azimio campaigns in Vihiga, said Raila’s promises had earned him full support from Western region.
Raila assured the people of Western region that apart from giving key positions to their leaders, he would complete all stalled projects started by the outgoing Jubilee government.
“I will complete all the projects that were started in Vihiga if President Uhuru Kenyatta leaves office without completing them,” said the Azimio leader.
Meanwhile, a section of Samburu leaders have thrown their weight behind Raila and his running mate Martha Karua.
Addressing the media at a press conference in Maralal town, the leaders said the duo are the best choice to govern the country after the August elections.
Lenas Leshore, who was given a direct ODM ticket to contest the Samburu East MP seat, said the winning team is Azimio and One Kenya Alliance. He congratulated his party leader for picking Karua as his running mate.
“Our mothers and sisters are happy that he (Raila) picked Martha Karua as his running mate,” he said.
Leshore added that Raila and Karua are not new to Samburu and they anticipate reforms from the two.
