President Kenyatta addresses leaders from Kisii and Nyamira counties. [Photo/PSCU]
By PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday hosted a delegation of more than 15,000 people from Kisii and Nyamira Counties, who pledged their support for Jubilee ahead of the October 17 elections.
Several elected MPs from the two counties, who did not support the President in August, pledged to stand by and walk with him in the repeat poll.
Among them were PDP’s Oroo Oyioka (Bomachari), Ezekiel Machogu (National Agenda Party, Nyaribari Masaba), Prof Zadock Ogutu (Independent, Bomachoge Borabu) and PDP’s Innocent Obiri (Bobasi) who was away with apology.
The Gusii delegation said they would work hard to ensure that more people vote for President Kenyatta and were optimistic that President Kenyatta will win the Oct 17 repeat polls by a bigger margin to form the next Government and want to be part of it.
Other MPs from Gusii community who will spearhead the campaign for President Kenyatta’s reelection are MPs Shadarack Mose (Kitutu Masaba), Joash Nyamoko (North Mugirango), Milly Omanga (nominated), Samuel Arama (Nakuru Town West), Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu Chache North) and Richard Tongi (Nyaribari Chache).
The MPs included members of the People’s Democratic Party, who announced that they would rally behind the President’s re-election.
Others were former MPs Joseph Kiangoi, Walter Nyambati, James Magara and former CIC chairman Charles Nyachae.
The leaders said they would mobilize the Abagusii voters to support the reelection of President Kenyatta when the repeat presidential elections are held in October 17.
The legislators dismissed claims by the Opposition that Kisii and Nyamira Counties were its strongholds, saying they will be in for a rude shock come the next elections.
In the August polls 52 percent of voters in Nyamira backed President Kenyatta while 48 percent in Kisii voted for him.
“We want to assure you that as leaders we will do our best to deliver the Abagusii votes so as to enable President Kenyatta win with more than 70 percent when the October elections are held,” said Mr Mose.
Mr Angwenyi said the Abagusii community would not be misled to support political parties, which end up being in Opposition.
“We want to be part and parcel of the Jubilee Administration. This is why we are here today to assure the President that we are firmly in support of his reelection,” said Mr Angwenyi.
President Kenyatta thanked leaders from the community for their support, saying he was confident that he would win, just like he did on August 8 before the Supreme Court nullified his victory.
“With your support, I am optimistic that we will reclaim our victory that was overturned by the Supreme Court,” said Mr Kenyatta.
The Head of State said Jubilee has agenda for the country including initiating projects that have direct impact on the lives of the people unlike the Opposition leaders who were just interested in creating positions for themselves.
President Kenyatta said there was no need for the country to be tensed because of politics in every five years, saying leaders should engage in politics based on issues and not tribes.
“We want leaders to engage in peaceful politics and not destructive ones that can tear the country apart,” said President Kenyatta.
The Deputy President castigated the Opposition for dividing Kenyans on ethnic backgrounds at the expense of focusing on issues that can unite the country.
“The Opposition should focus on issue based politics instead of concentrating on tribal based politics to achieve their selfish agenda,” said Deputy President Ruto.
He told members of the Abagusii community to reject the Opposition and support Jubilee because of its agenda for the country.
“One good thing with the Abagusii people is that they make their decision using their heads and not their hearts. That’s why they cannot be misled to support individuals who end up losing elections,” said the Deputy President.