Uhuru tour wins Luhya vote as elders, governor endorse Jubilee

Elders and leaders from the Luhya Community have told off the Opposition, saying that Jubilee Party enjoys enormous support in the western region.

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka and members of the Luhya council of Elders led by deputy chair Burudi Nabwera have said President Uhuru Kenyatta will be the man to beat in Bungoma and other parts of the region despite claims by NASA of controlling the Luhya vote.

This comes just days after President Uhuru staged a successful rally at Posta grounds in Bungoma, which endorsed his reelection.

“Let nobody cheat you, Bungoma is a Jubilee zone. We have seen the development done by Jubilee and we are not supporting Uhuru Kenyatta without reason. Jubilee has delivered. Each leader has the right to seek votes from any corner of the country and President Uhuru came here and played his cards well and he has been given the support by Luhya people,” Lusaka said.

The governor and Luhya elders have told the opposition to prepare for a resounding defeat.

Jubilee Party, which targets 50 per cent plus one vote to secure the August 8 General Elections, is aiming to be declared winners with over 13 million votes. This can be confirmed by the inroads that President Uhuru is making in regions formerly perceived to be NASA strongholds.

“Under Jubilee, the country has seen tremendous progress and we are confident of more to come our way in the next five years," Lusaka said. "In Busia we are looking at over 50 per cent, in Bungoma over 60 per cent."

Jubilee is also aware that to get the 13 million votes, they must control the political battle for the swing-vote counties who will decide who claims the majority of the registered voters.

Jubilee strategists have earmarked Kisii, Nyamira and Trans Nzoia counties as areas that hold a sway in boosting their numbers. And according to Lusaka, the President’s party holds a major stake in these number of registered voters.

Other areas that will contribute to the 17 counties Jubilee believe are their strong holds in Central, eastern and Rift valley are Marsabit, Wajir, Narok, Kajiado, Lamu, Garisa, Nairobi, Samburu Tana River and Mandera.

Uhuru won the 2013 elections with 6,173,433 (50.5 per cent) against Raila’s 5,340,546 votes (43.7per cent). However, the opposition leader led in 26 out of 47 counties. Raila in 2013, slightly edge out Uhuru in eight of the 13 counties, and Jubilee wants to reverse this on August 8. A total of 12,330,028 Kenyans, representing 86 per cent of the registered voters cast their ballots.

Lusaka urged the Luhya voters to maintain peace and order even when provoked saying the development attained need not be soiled by innocent blood.