2007 Elections
Mainstream Parties Battle for Kisii Vote
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- Published on Tuesday, 22 January 2008 19:30
ODM Kenya presidential candidate Kalonzo Musyoka personally campaigned in the region as Mrs Ida Odinga campaigned for her husband, ODM flag-bearer Raila Odinga. Roads minister Simeon Nyachae led the PNU campaign.
Mrs Odinga was accompanied by ODM head of secretariat Janet Ongera, ODM parliamentary contenders Charles Onyancha (Bonchari) and Chris Bichage (Nyaribari Chache).
Parallel rallies
The parallel rallies took place only a day after President Kibaki addressed a series of rallies in a vote-hunting mission.
Mr Musyoka's campaigns took him to Nyangweta in South Mugirango, Kiogoro in Nyaribari Chache and Omonono in North Mugirango/Borabu where he asked the Kisii community to reject President Kibaki and Mr Odinga and vote for him.
Mrs Odinga addressed rallies at Gusii Stadium where she landed in a helicopter, and Nyamira playground. She appealed to the crowd to vote for her husband, saying he would liberate Kenyans.
"If you want to realise real change, development and prosperity, vote for Raila," she told the crowd. And Mr Nyachae, who addressed rallies at Gekomu and Nyanchwa in Nyaribari Chache constituency, drummed up support for President Kibaki.
Marshal plan
In North Eastern Province, Mr Odinga addressed rallies in Garissa and Wajir towns. He promised a marshal plan to improve the lives of pastoralists.
He said the plan would benefit the pastoralists in education, health and livestock. Mr Odinga criticised President Kibaki for not fulfilling the promises he pledged during the 2002 elections, citing the construction of the Garissa-Wajir-Mandera highway as one of the unfulfilled pledges.
He thanked the region's residents for remaining steadfast in ODM, telling them not to be discouraged by propaganda about majimbo.
He explained that majimbo was devolution of power to the grassroots.
