We’re making final march to liberate Kenya, says Raila

NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga. (Photo: Jonah Onyango/Standard)

NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga has said the parliamentary system of government was the best bet for governance as it would expand the democratic space.

Speaking during the launch of his book The Quest for Nationhood; Road map to our future, Raila announced that NASA was ready to fully liberate the country and put it on course for economic take off.

“We have no reason why we should not be heading to become a first world country like South Korea and Malaysia. We had economies of similar strength at independence but their economies are now 45 times bigger than Kenya’s,” he said.

Raila said that Kenya was resilient and had stood firm despite greed and misrule by its rulers.

Greedy individuals

“We know where to touch to turn the country around,” he said adding that he had authored the book to demonstrate to young people the path that the country had travelled.

In the book Raila cites Kenya’s lost opportunities, and proffers solutions that would guide it to the path to prosperity.

The NASA presidential candidate highlights the social, political and economic changes that have taken place since independence.

However, he notes that Kenya’s dream is not lost but only deferred and will be achieved by recapturing the hope and optimism of the past. The book highlights the contribution of leaders who have struggled to liberate Kenyans from what he describes as the yoke of political oppression, economic exploitation and social marginalisation.

Meanwhile, NASA co-principals return to Kisii County today, three days after Deputy President announced the region was now a Jubilee stronghold.

While on the campaign trail in the region three days ago, Ruto declared that Nyamira and Kisii were now firmly behind Jubilee. 

However, Saturday ODM officials dismissed the DP’s claims and asserted that  the two counties were solidly behind Raila. NASA leaders led by Raila are expected to land at Magwagwa before proceeding to Ekerenyo playground, the venue where Ruto addressed a rally on Thursday.

They will also address a rally at Magombo market in the afternoon. NASA co-principals will be hosted by Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire who also heads Gusii regional presidential campaigns.

Nyamira County Presidential coordinator Justus Omiti confirmed NASA’s campaign programme. “Raila will be in Nyamira to sell the NASA agenda and urge residents to come out in urge numbers to vote for NASA,” he said.

Mr Omiti said the opposition leaders will make whistle stops in various places to ensure the entire county was covered.

Jubilee Party has been seeking to make inroads in the region through various party candidates with the support of leaders Walter Nyambati, Joash Nyamoko,  Shadrack Mose and Joseph Kiangoi.

Mr Nyamoko, who is also the County’s Assembly speaker, said that the county was no longer NASA-dominated. “We are targeting 60 per cent of the region’s votes up from from the 26 per cent the President got in the last election,” he said.

Compensated

Mr Nyambati said Jubilee had eaten into NASA’s support base.

“The government has achieved a lot in the region to enable us get majority votes. We are confident that we will clinch majority seats and give our presidential candidate   victory,” he said.

However, opposition leaders said that the government had done little to improve the life of residents. Mr Bosire said the region would be better off under a NASA government.

“We are in agreement that the community has not had a deserving share of resource allocation. We cannot be fooled with development promises made on air. The community deserves an explanation as to why IDPs in the region are yet to be compensated fully like their counterparts in other parts of the country,” he said.

Bosire said NASA was formed to unite the country and bring change in leadership.

“Jubilee was an accident in the Kenyan leadership. They have failed to achieve their campaign manifesto and the country cannot afford another five years under the same individuals. They   have excelled in corruption and misappropriation of public resources,” he said.

Borabu ODM parliamentary aspirant Nyandoro Kambi said that the region would once again vote overwhelmingly for the opposition. “Kenyans are crying over the contracting economy. Wealth is now a preserve of a few individuals in government,” he said.

Nyamira Woman Representative Alice Chae said NASA would not allow Jubilee to gain a foothold Nyamira County.