ODM Party leader Raila Odinga at a past rally. Photo/ capitalfm.co.ke
Coast residents have pledged to backed ODM Party leader Raila Odinga's presidential bid.Speaking on Sunday during ODM's rally at the Tononoka grounds, leaders in the region said Raila is the best candidate to unseat President Uhuru Kenyatta because they believe he is the only candidate who will protect their interests, unite all the 42 Kenyans tribes including Makonde community, end tribalism, uplift the economy of this country and protect devolution if elected into power.In what they termed as the Tononoka declaration, the Coast politicians under the leadership of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu among others, the leaders affirmed that they will rally the electorate behind the former Prime Minister to ensure he rises to power in August. In the declaration read by Mruttu, the leaders said the future of Coast residents lies in Raila.In his speech, Raila took a swipe at President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto for allegedly failing to keep their pre-election pledges.The opposition leader said the Head of State has done little to fight increased cases of massive graft in different public offices. “President Kenyatta has promoted Kenya from lower league in graft to top league only compared to Nicaragua and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Raila, as quoted by the Nation.