Raila Odinga. [Photo/KenyaToday]
Opposition’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga insists he will get at least 10 million votes in the August general election.
The Orange Democratic Movement leader, speaking during a NASA rally in Kisii on Wednesday, said they have put in place measures to ensure over 95 per cent voter turnout in Nyanza and Western - their strongholds.
The former Prime Minister will be gunning for the country’s top job for the fourth time, after unsuccessfully bidding in 1997, 2007 and 2013 elections.
"When we say that we will get more than 10 million votes, we are not joking. We mean business," Raila said at the Gusii Stadium.
He added, "We have approximately 2.7 million votes in Nyanza and we want to garner 2.5 million. In Western, out of the 1.9 million we want 1.5 million. We want to get majority votes from Nairobi, Coast and Nairobi."
"In Kisii and Nyamira counties, Uhuru got more than 25 per cent. I want party stalwarts to ensure Jubilee is completely locked out of Kisii."
There are 19,741,174 voters, and the voter registry must be cleaned, reducing the number somewhat.
Assuming a similar turnout of 86 per cent as in 2013, 16.93 million should be expected to vote on August 8.
The total number of registered voters in the perceived Nasa strongholds is 7,043, 631, while Jubilee areas registered 7,437,520.
The battle grounds number of registered voters is 5,196,412.
Raila’s statements have, however, been criticised by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery.
"The trend by our political parties, where leaders are dropping numbers like 10 million votes while others are saying they will garner more than this, sets a bad precedent," said NCIC chairman, Francis Ole Kaparo.
Nkaissery said the opposition leader was inciting Kenyans by insisting he will get 10 million votes.
“Those claiming they have 10m votes, how did they establish that as a fact? These are falsities meant to incite Kenyans,” the CS posted on Twitter.
Also present at the rally were, his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto.