I know Raila too well, says Kamotho – I will frustrate his campaign for presidency
Posted by African Press International on October 22, 2007
Kamotho out to frustrate Raila
Story by NATION Team
Publication Date: 10/21/2007
Former Kanu secretary-general Joseph Kamotho has said he will ensure that Langata MP Raila Odinga will have a difficult run in the race for the presidency.
Speaking a day after he was roped into President Kibaki’s national re-election campaign, the combative Mathioya MP said he was in familiar waters when it came to campaigning against Mr Odinga.
I know Raila far too well, he told a PNU rally at Kiria-ini market in his Mathioya constituency. If for all these years he has never won my wars, I do not think he is just about to win one this time round.
Mr Kamotho, who was Kanu secretary-general for 13 years was replaced by Mr Odinga after the latter�s National Democratic Party merged with Kanu.
But late in 2002, Mr Odinga fell out with then President Moi and led a group of leaders, including Mr Kamotho, in ditching Kanu for the Liberal Democratic Party, which later joined hands with the National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK) to support President Kibaki in the 2002 General Election.
Campaign for President
At the weekend, Mr Kamotho joined the team led by Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta to campaign for President Kibaki in upper Eastern and North Eastern provinces among other areas.
The team is set to embark on its vote hunting mission today in Marsabit and Moyale districts before moving on to Garissa in North Eastern.
On Saturday, Mr Kamotho told Kenyans not to be swayed by propaganda.
He was supported by Kitutu Chache MP Jimmy Angwenyi, who told the Kiria-ini rally that the clamour for majimbo was meant to snatch wealth from hard-working communities and give it to �those who do not want to sweat.
He also said the ODM presidential candidate should explain what he meant by saying that he was a social democrat.
Finance assistant minister Peter Kenneth proposed that all tea and coffee factories be closed on polling day while shops and social places should only be opened after owners prove they have voted.
He also dismissed those calling for renewal of Mr Samuel Kivuitu’s term as ECK chairman. Mr Kivuitu’s term ends on December 2.
ODM and ODM-K have been calling for Mr Kivuitu’s term to be extended to ensure a level playing field in the next election.
And in Meru, PNU leaders challenged Mr Odinga to tell Kenyans his religion.
They said the country needed a president who could assure Kenyans of continued freedom of worship.
�We all know that President Kibaki is a Catholic and Kalonzo Musyoka is a follower of the Baptist Church, but can Raila tell Kenyans which religion he belongs to or even his baptism name?� said Trade assistant minister Petkay Miriti at a rally at Muthaara market in Tigania East.
Vijana na Kibaki lobby group regional coordinator, Mr Alex Wachira, said Mr Odinga was taking advantage of jobless youths to hoodwink them that he would create employment if they elected him.
He told the youth to instead take advantage of the various policies President Kibaki�s government had introduced to ensure they were self-reliant.
Environment minister David Mwiraria alleged that Mr Odinga would ban the growing and sale of miraa (khat), which is the region�s major cash crop.
He urged voters to turn out in large numbers to ensure a landslide victory for President Kibaki.
At an earlier rally in Nkubu, South Imenti constituency, Mr Mwiraria and Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi accused ODM leaders of planning to change Kenya into a socialist state and that was why they were clamouring for federalism.
According to them, some states would block people from owning property outside their districts of origin.
Mr Murungi also accused ODM of spreading propaganda against the Government’s development. They have eyes, yet they don�t see. They have ears and yet they don’t hear, Mr Kiraitu said.
Support majimbo
According to him, there was no way MPs in the next government would support majimbo because the system was rejected immediately after Kenya attained independence in 1963.
Transport assistant minister Njeru Githae said that majimbo would lead to the seizure of resources from people perceived to be outsiders in various states.
Former State House comptroller Matere Keriri claimed that some leaders now allied to ODM had always wanted to seize President Kibaki�s government when he was unwell during the first two years of his administration.
They wanted to get power through the back door, which made him (the President) worried. I had to block them (from accessing State House),� said Mr Keriri.
Lifted and published by API – source.nation.ke
