Don’t fall for empty slogans, presidential hopeful Jimi Wanjigi w*rns
Presidential hopeful Jimi Wanjigi yesterday faulted Deputy President William Ruto’s State House bid, saying he was part of Jubilee government’s shortcomings.
Wanjigi also cautioned the youth against falling for political slogans and being swayed by handouts.
“You should not accept a situation where people dish money and slogans like a wheelbarrow. Listen and interrogate,” said Wanjigi.
In a veiled reference Ruto’s bottom-up economic model, the businessman said it was impossible to implement some of the promises made by politicians in the campaigns.
“Let no one tell you how they will change the economy in two years yet the extent of damage they did is worse,” said Wanjigi when he addressed Kenyatta University students.
He at the same time warned ODM against its proposed selection of candidates for various elective seats and granting of direct tickets, saying such an approach would split the party.
He was reacting to remarks by deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya that ODM was considering using a system where popular candidates are handpicked to run for elective seats.
According to Oparanya, the approach would prevent external forces from infiltrating the party’s nominations and installing weak candidates.
ODM nominations
Wanjigi, however, warned that direct nominations could cost ODM dearly, saying members want to directly elected their leaders.
“This party risks being torn apart by anything that is seen as undemocratic. I warn those who do not want to see democracy in ODM that you will only have yourselves to blame,” he said.
He, in particular, said the presidential flag bearer should be elected by the party delegates.
“We have a whole vice chair out there telling us categorically that these nominations are going to be done in rooms,” he said.
He said the party constitution lays out rules and regulations in all the elections and in the presidential election, delegates choose the candidate at a delegates conference.
“Any shortcut is against the party constitution and it will be resisted by party members, unless there is consensus,” he added.
He called on the youth to come out in large numbers and register as voters saying they form a critical base in decision making for the next three or four decades.
