ODM leader Raila Odinga at a past event. [Photo: bbc.co.uk]
The National Super Alliance (NASA) principals and strategists are spending sleepless nights devising ways to ensure low voter turn-out in President Uhuru Kenyatta's backyard of Central Kenya, a Jubilee politician has revealed.
According to Simon Wambugu, Kinangop parliamentary candidate, the opposition had put up a strong fight to force a re-run in next month's presidential poll, and the easiest way to achieve this is through creating voter apathy in Uhuru's stronghold.
The politician claimed there is a plot by NASA leader Raila Odinga to make the young people get drunk to ensure they do not vote for Uhuru on August 8.
"Raila and his NASA team are working hard to ensure Uhuru does not win in the first round. He is prepared to use any monkey tricks to guarantee him a re-run," Wambugu said UhuRuto Express Caravan in Nyandarua County on Sunday.
"We are aware of all the tricks Raila plans to use to ensure low voter turnout in Jubilee strongholds, knowing that this is his last presidential attempt. He is prepared to use any monkey tricks to guarantee him a re-run," the candidate added as quoted by the Daily Nation.
He asked administration officers to make sure all drinking joints remain closed for the better part of the election week and urged residents to come out in large numbers to ensure President Kenyatta is re-elected.
"There is need for 100 percent voter turn-out. We have the numbers to help Uhuru win, but please come out and vote,” Wambugu said.
Alcoholism is a major social problem in the central area of Kenya where many unemployed youth use and abuse alcohol with severe effects on their families and health.
On Sunday, NASA leader Kalonzo Musyoka took a swipe at President Kenyatta telling him he has not fought poverty in his Gatundu backyard where residents there Gatundu residents have resorted to drinking cheap killer brews because of poverty.
“Abject poverty, characterised by the debilitating jigger menace, as well as alcoholism and drug abuse pervade the area that so far prides itself on having produced two Presidents — Jomo and Uhuru,” the Wiper leader said.