Raila team sets target for counties, pushes for total turnout

 

NASA presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga addresses a political rally in Oyugis, Kasipul constituency, on Monday. He called for 100 per cent voter turnout in the area. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

The Nyanza National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential campaign team has set voter turnout targets for each of the six counties in the region as campaigns hit the home stretch.

The team has also declared the controversial six-piece voting campaign a success.

With 2,688,104 voters out of the 19.6 million registered nationally, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii and Nyamira counties are expected to have not less than 2.5 million people voting, according to the team.

The Nyanza NASA presidential campaign co-ordinators are Gladys Wanga, Oburu Oginga and Bob Madanji.

“Although we may not hit the 99 per cent mark, our ultimate aim is to mobilise the people to ensure that the voter turnout is big,” said Dr Oburu.

He is confident that they will see high voter turnout percentages “because Kenyans are yearning for change”.

 Catching up

Ms Wanga, who is also the Homa Bay woman representative, said they had succeeded in convincing voters that the best way to support Raila was to give him a six-suit vote.

“We initially faced some hurdles while marketing the six-piece voting format but our people have now embraced the message,” added Wanga.

“We are ahead of the independent candidates. They are trying to catch up but we are smarter.”

Mr Madanji and Wanga explained that they had given county flag bearers and parliamentary nominees targets and possibilities of rewards for those who brought in the highest number of votes.

“The counties that register high voter percentages will be rewarded by the NASA presidential campaign secretariat for hard work,” said Madanji.

The team is drumming up support from both youths and women who constitute the largest voting blocs in the region.

Democratic transition

“We want women and youths, whose future we are fighting for, to participate in the democratic transition. This election is crucial for all of us and we must be serious,” said Wanga, adding that the NASA movement’s rise was inexorable and signalled a country ripe for change.

Oburu said it was now the Government’s duty “to listen more to the voice of the people of Kenya” and to act in a stronger, faster way particularly on employment in a country with record joblessness.

Migori NASA presidential campaign co-ordinator Adero Omonge said they had stepped up campaigns in the villages. Mr Omonge revealed that they planned to use “vuvuzela” and whistles to wake voters up at dawn on August 8.

In Kisumu, Anyang’ Nyong’o has come up with a group code-named ‘Team Kali’ that is tasked with meeting the election targets.

Co-ordinated by Senate nominee Fred Outa, the team is criss-crossing the county mobilising voters. Yesterday, Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti said NASA’s 95 per cent voter-turnout target was achievable and urged all ODM candidates to work as a team.

“We are now engaging the electorate directly, both for Raila and ourselves,” said Mr Awiti.