By Munene Kamau
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged the Meru to resist attempts to rally them behind ethnic blocs and instead vote for parties based on their policies.
Raila cited the recently concluded US elections and asked Kenyans to reject tribal politics that divide the country every election year.
“Am expecting that Kenyans learnt last week from what the great nation of America did by voting in for the second time Barack Obama as its president regardless of his race,” said Raila.
Speaking during a series of rallies in Meru County, Raila said Kenyans should avoid voting along tribal lines failure to avoid an occurrence of the post-election violence.
Peaceful campaigns
“ODM is determined to conduct our campaigns peacefully bearing in mind that that after the end of it, the nation is greater than the party or an individual,” he said.
The premier said those forming tribal alliances should be told the days of such groupings were long gone.
“Zile siku za kuchagua mtu wa nyumba zimeisha. Tungetaka mtu achaguliwe kulingana na sera zake kama vile Obama amechaguliwa na America. (The days people used to be elected along tribal lines are long gone. People should be elected due to their agenda, like the way Obama was in America)” said Raila.
Former Ntonyiri MP Maoka Maore and 2007 parliamentary seat loser for Igembe Kiringo Kubai attended Raila’s campaign trail.
During his address at Kimongoro Market in Igembe South, Raila told the residents if given a chance, he would fulfill the development agenda he had in 2007.
He said he should not be judged harshly as circumstances created and caused by the Coalition Government were against the development pledges he made then.
ODM Chairman Henry Kosgey urged the Meru not to gamble with untested and unproven leaders.
“If you want your community to be on board with the rest of Kenyans, ODM is the political vehicle that you should board and I assure you, you will not regret,” he said.
This morning, Raila is expected to visit Meru town, Nkubu and later proceed to Isiolo.
