Uhuru: CORD ‘puppet of West’

By DAVID OCHAMI and WILLIS OKETCH

The Jubilee Alliance leaders attacked rival CORD Alliance describing its leaders as “puppets of the West”.

At a rally that was meant to counter CORD’s Uhuru Park gathering, Uhuru and his team rocked the coastal city of Mombasa where the Deputy Prime Minister told supporters he was convinced Jubilee would form the next government.

Most speakers at the meeting including Cabinet ministers, Naomi Shaban, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Assistant ministers Kazungu Kambi, Abu Chiaba, Mvita MP Najib Balala, Garsen MP Danson Mungatana endorsed Uhuru Kenyatta to be the Jubilee Alliance’s presidential candidate ahead of today’s joint National Delegates Conference of the URP and TNA parties with Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

He described Uhuru as “the noble one from the House of Jomo”.

Balala said he supports Uhuru’s presidency “because he is my age-mate” with Mwakwere arguing that coastal tribes should unite with the big tribes to “be in government next year”.

Notably absent at the rally held at Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa were all UDF leaders in Mombasa and Water minister Charity Ngilu, but she reportedly sent Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo who said the minister’s Narc party still supports Jubilee Alliance.

While Uhuru flew into Mombasa Saturday afternoon Ruto and Balala came on Friday and visited war-torn Tana Delta district Saturday morning before the rally at Tononoka.

Speaking at the Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa, the Jubilee Alliance leaders led by Uhuru and Ruto played the nationalist accusing Raila and VP Kalonzo Musyoka of plotting to mortgage Kenya’s sovereign to US and foreign interests.

While Ruto spearheaded the argument that CORD belonged to “the analogue generation” and Jubilee Alliance to “the digital generation”.

Uhuru argued that Raila, Kalonzo and CORD would “be controlled from Europe and the US if elected “to lead Kenya on March 4.

Conscious of the endorsement of Raila as CORD’s presidential candidate and Musalia Mudavadi’s departure from the Jubilee Alliance, Ruto said this alliance will endure and form the next government.

He then claimed that in terms of who is suited to lead Kenya next year the difference between the two alliances “is as clear as day is from night”.

Uhuru and Ruto face crimes against humanity charges at the Initernational Crimnal Court. They have often accused the West of supporting their prosecution.

He said the Jubilee Alliance will create policies to improve the economy and spur food production and create employment to ensure “no Kenyan will sleep hungry when we take Government next year”.

The former minister claimed leaders in the CORD Alliance have not brought progress after many years in Government.

“We respect these men, but we shall vote them out to retire with President Kibaki,” according to Ruto who also claimed that next year’s election “will be a contest between old led by Raila Odinga and young men led by Uhuru Kenyatta”.

Ruto said his alliance represents “hope for tomorrow” while CORD represents “Saturday”.

When he rose to speak, Uhuru was more scathing and unforgiving by depicting the regime he hopes to create as a nationalist defender of Pan African interests.

Uhuru says he will lead a collective presidency if elected arguing that his Government will be “a collective mind” of young leaders and “a Government of solutions.”

The Gatundu South MP claimed leaders in Cord cannot claim to have solutions for future problems because “they have been in Government for decades.

He accused Lands minister James Orengo of failing to solve the land problems in Coast and alleged that his regime will solve this.

Uhuru then turned on his opponents suggesting that they lacked Pan Africanist credentials and the will to resist foreign pressure.

“Our leadership will not be controlled from Europe and the United States of America,” Uhuru said.

He added if elected president, he will foster Pan-African unity and economic independence.

“We fought for independence so that we can control out affairs,” the Gatundu MP said.