Jubilee borrows from Kibaki, uses envoys to woo Western region

Some of the ambassadors from Western Kenya who accompanied Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohammed during the launch of the Inua Jamii programme, at the Kakamega Approved School on July 7. [Photo: Duncan Ocholla, Standard]

Jubilee architects are not about to relent on their quest to woo the people of Western to back President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election bid.

The party has been parading senior government appointees during public rallies to convince locals that indeed Western has a stake in Uhuru’s regime.

On July 7, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amina Mohammed was flanked by ambassadors George Masafu (Kinshasa) Florence Weche (India), Bramwel Kisuya (Spain) and Patrick Wamoto (Thailand) at a government function in Kakamega.

However, CS Mohammed was quick to note that the diplomatic officers were on leave and had created time to accompany her for launch of the Inua Jamii programme at the Kakamega Approved School grounds.

Other ambassadors appointed from Western include Prof George Godia (UNESCO), Richard Opembe (Dublin) and lawyer Aggrey Shitsama, who serves as Deputy Head of Mission in Addis Ababa. During the event, Mohammed said there was nothing wrong for the officers to attend functions being implemented by the Jubilee administration.

“We are shocked by rumours saying the ambassadors have been recalled to beef up Jubilee campaigns. The truth is that most of them are on leave and have come back home to spend time with family and friends.”

Cabinet Secretary for Water Eugene Wamalwa has been accompanied by principal secretaries Peter Itemere and Josephta Oyiela Mukobe on Jubilee campaign trails in Western.

Other than reminding locals that Uhuru has appointed their sons and daughters in key government positions, CS Wamalwa has been enumerating Jubilee’s achievements in the region.

The area has two CS slots, two principal secretary positions and over 10 parastatal chiefs slots under the Jubilee regime.

Their style of campaign has not gone down well with the National Super Alliance (NASA) leadership. NASA presidential campaign coordinator in Western Khalid Njiraini wants IEBC to take action against the Jubilee leaders for involving its officers in the campaigns.

“It is unacceptable for them to violate the law by deploying the officers to drum up support for Jubilee instead of keeping to their duties.”

Nonetheless, political analysts argue that there is nothing wrong with Jubilee involving its officers in campaigns.

Plum jobs

“The approach is well-thought-out and is likely to yield dividends,” said Martin Oloo, a political analyst during an interview.

He added, “It is not by mistake that Jubilee are hanging on the appointments issue to win over people; after all, our politics are far from issue-based.”

He holds that Jubilee’s message could resonate with the electorate since they can see those appointed to various plum jobs in government.

The political pundit confides that Jubilee are employing a similar strategy used by Kibaki to mobilise votes across the country and particularly in the Opposition strong holds.

Kibaki made good use of provincial administration to guarantee himself support in areas perceived to be Opposition strong-holds and the approach worked for him.

Jubilee point men agree. Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali said their competitors had nothing tangible they have done for the locals.

But Vihiga Senator George Khaniri and legislators Alfred Agoi (Sabatia) and Enock Kibunguchi (Likuyani) have come to the defence of Raila, saying the NASA principal has the interests of Western at heart.