Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga on Sunday held his first joint rallies with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in the latter’s Ukambani backyard since their grand reunion two weeks ago.
The duo traversed Machakos county with Raila seizing the moment to root for his recently launched manifesto and Kalonzo opening up on his reunion with the ODM boss.
Raila and Kalonzo started their day at Masinga where they attended a church service before addressing a roadside rally.
They then trooped to Matuu in Yatta for a rally, then to Mwala, Athi River before ending their trip at a roadside rally in Mlolongo.
Addressing crowds at Masinga, Raila said the Azimio manifesto contains solutions to the country’s problems.
“It is called the contract with the people of Kenya. It stipulates how we are going to fight the three enemies facing Kenyans; disease, poverty, ignorance,” he said.
If he succeeds President Uhuru Kenyatta after the August 9, general election, Raila reiterated that his government will implement the promises to realise Vision 2030.
“We want to improve the lives of Kenyans. We started with (former President Mwai) Kibaki (during the Grand Coalition government). We are sure we are going to move with speed towards that direction,” he said.
Last Monday, Raila unveiled his 10-point manifesto, breaking the plans, policies and programmes his government will roll out to improve the battered economy and improve lives.
However, critics have poked holes in the document. Some say the blueprint captures the heart of the country’s problems, they said the proposed solutions are broad and may take time to implement.
But Raila expressed confidence that this administration will implement the manifesto, which he maintained was crafted after wide consultations.
The presidential hopeful cited the pledge of free education from nursery to university level, which he said will eradicate ignorance by ensuring every child, irrespective of their background, gets access to quality education.
“On health, we have BabaCare, which is similar to Obama Care. We will register all Kenyans to NHIF and for those who are unable to pay the premiums, the government will pay for them,” he said.
He also reiterated his commitment to advancing flexible loans to the youth, small-scale traders and support to vulnerable families to jumpstart the country’s economy.
Kalonzo, rallied his Ukambani base to back Raila, saying he made up his mind to support the former Prime Minister for president for a third time to rescue the country.
“I was with Raila in 2013 and you voted overwhelmingly for us. You voted for us in 2017. Many people thought, this time, it is the end of Kalonzo,” he said.
“[But] I came and joined my brother. Kalonzo and Raila you cannot separate them. We have seen many things in Kenya together,” he said.
He reiterated he teamed up with Raila again to rescue the country said to be under threat of being destroyed.
“I went for a 10-day retrospection and Kenya Kwisha (as they refer to Deputy President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance), will destroy this country. I decided to come back and support Raila even stronger,” he said.
The duo was accompanied by a battalion of leaders from the region and beyond.
They include Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and her Makueni counterpart Kivutha Kibwana and several local MPs.
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, former Transport CAS and Wiper Machakos governor candidate Wavinya Ndeti, former State House chief of staff and Machakos governor candidate Nzioka Waita attended.
MPs Babu Owino (Embakasi East), Junet Mohamed (Suna East), Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Senator Kavindu Muthama (Machakos) are among the leaders who accompanied the Azimio bosses.
Kalonzo said they have put aside their differences with Ngilu and Kibwana to consolidate the region’s votes for Raila.
“I call for unity between Ngilu and Kibwana. We should all be united to ensure Raila becomes the fifth President of Kenya,” he said.
Ngilu and Kibwana lauded the Wiper boss for agreeing to team up with Raila, saying his re-unity has ringfenced the vote bloc for Raila.
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