Deputy President William Ruto yesterday landed in Malindi to launch campaigns for the Jubilee candidate in the March 7 by-election.
Ruto went to the town hours after local ODM leaders accused the ruling coalition of using State resources to campaign.
The DP landed at the Malindi airstrip in a Kenya Airforce plane and was joined by several legislators from Jubilee and CORD rebels. They drove to Mere village in Ganda location to rally support for Jubilee’s Philip Charo.
Ruto described Mr Charo as a native of Malindi who is “no one’s stooge”, adding that a vote for Jubilee would free Malindi constituency from “a hostage situation” engendered by people he described as “foreigners”.
“Philip Charo is your son. He is your servant. Do not elect someone else’s stooge,” said Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro.
Other Jubilee leaders also held meetings with community and opinion leaders in the constituency to seek their backing for Charo.
On Sunday, Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko, Kinango MP Ngozi Rai and Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario met ethnic Somali leaders at Eden Rock Hotel in Malindi town.
“I have been here for the past three weeks in solidarity with Malindi constituents to ensure Jap (Jubilee Alliance Party) carries the day during the mini-polls. I call upon you to thank the President for appointing Dan Kazungu to the Cabinet by voting in Charo,” said Rai.
“I will ensure the community’s children are given bursaries to further their education and Charo will commit this in writing,” Wario told the leaders.
Yesterday at Ganda, Ruto said Jubilee settled on Charo because of his “touch and rapport” with the people of Malindi and assured the constituents of the Government’s resolve to meet all the promises made during the campaigns.
“I will ensure the people of Malindi get what they deserve. I will ensure my plate is full with what the people of Malindi want,” said the DP, adding that CORD had no chance of forming the next government due to its waning support.
Other leaders who joined the DP included National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Mike Sonko, Mustafa Iddi, Khatib Mwashetani, Emma Mbura, Zainab Chidzuga, Ibrahim Sane and Harrison Kombe.
Mung’aro said CORD had nothing to offer the people of Malindi and Coast in general.
“People all over the world vote so that they can be in government. Why then can someone tell you to vote so that you can join the Opposition?” asked Mung’aro.
He added, “If you want development, please join the party in Government. We do not want to stay in the Opposition forever.”
The campaigns have been marked by claims of violence. On Sunday night, violence broke out after a Jubilee senator’s speech at a local hotel, in which several people were injured.
Yesterday, CORD leaders claimed party supporters were attacked and injured by people allied to the Jubilee camp.
“He was attacked by three people on three motorcycles which had passengers on board, they beat him up, smashed his phone and told him to keep off from Malindi politics,” said Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, adding that Jubilee was trying to instil fear in the local population and demoralise Opposition supporters.
