Commentaries
Gusii Leaders Promise to Back Raila's Bid
"Circumcision has nothing to do with leadership. All that is required for one to be a good leader is intelligence," said Mrs Consolata Raberla, who spoke on behalf of women leaders, as the crowd applauded.
Another elder, Mr Mainga Nyaberi, said the Kisii community had lived together with the Luos for a long time and could not allow Ford People officials to wage a rift between the two communities.
Mr Odinga, who took his presidential campaign to Kitutu Masaba, West Mugirango and North Mugirango constituencies, was accompanied by MPs Omingo Magara, Ayiecho Olweny, Peter Odoyo, former legislators Joseph Kiangoi and Chris Obure and former Nyanza medical officer of health James Gesami, James Ongwae and Timothy Bosire.
Mr Magara dismissed sentiments by Mr Nyachae that Kisii had its owners.
"The ownership of Kisii does not start and end with one person," Mr Magara said in reference to Mr Nyachae's Friday comment that Opposition leaders should stop wasting their time touring the area as the community had its owners.
Mr Kiangoi said elders from all 10 constituencies in Kisii would soon meet and chart the way forward for the community.
The bandwagon
Mr Odinga said: "I wonder why my friend Obwocha has joined the bandwagon of Mr Nyachae in dismissing my presidential candidature since he was very close to my father when he (late father) was in the Opposition."
He said Mr Obwocha should be the last person to criticise him and the Luo community because of their past relations.
Raila accused President Kibaki of failing to live by the pledges he made before he took over power. The former minister said corruption and unemployment were major impediments to the country's progress.
He said the Government should invest 60 per cent of the tax in rural areas to attract youths who migrate to urban centres to look for jobs.
