NASA leaving nothing to chance in this election - Musalia Mudavadi

NASA principal Musalia Mudavadi. (Photo: Courtesy)

Emboldened by the Supreme Court ruling, NASA is leaving nothing to chance in preparations for one of the fiercest political battles for State House.

Saturday, NASA co-principals retreated to draw the calender for the campaigns set to begin tomorrow to ensure a first round win.

Sunday Standard has learned that among the major strategies is targeted campaigns with focus on regions where they can get close to 100 per cent votes and other battle grounds.

The Opposition will be battling to regain lost ground in the August 8 polls in predominantly NASA-leaning areas.

Compared to the 2013 poll results, NASA lost ground in Bungoma, Kakamega, Kisii, Nyamira and Kitui where President Kenyatta improved his vote percentage.

The Opposition plans to ring-fence Coast, Western, Nyanza, Lower Eastern and win over parts of South Rift and Maasai land.

Jubilee Party bagged parliamentary seats in predominantly NASA regions of Western, Coast and Kisii.

Also key to the Opposition is the vote protection where they plan to use elected leaders from across the country to ensure that they secure ballots cast.

Saturday, NASA chief campaigner Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that they were finalising their strategy that would ensure a first round win and disabuse the notion that Jubilee had made inroads in their strongholds.

“We do not want to go into the second round, we want to win resoundingly and remove the lords of impunity from power. Kenyans are tired with the arrogance and impunity exhibited by the President and his administration,” said Mudavadi in a phone interview.

He predicted that the elections will be a mother of all battles and warned Jubilee Party to prepare for defeat.

Overturned

“We won on August 8 before IEBC agreed to be manipulated, we will ensure that our next victory is with a clear margin that would make it difficult for Jubilee to even attempt another rigging,” said Mudavadi.

He said President Uhuru has been injured after his victory was overturned by the Supreme Court and has lost face in the eyes of Kenyans.

Mudavadi added: “It would be difficult for Kenyans to trust President Kenyatta given that his lieutenants attempted to rig him in. We will also guard our votes better this time round.”

Immediately after the judgement, NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga, his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka, Mudavadi and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula went into a strategy meeting with MPs that extended to Saturday.

In a series of meetings, Kalonzo met leaders from Ukambani including Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, MPs and over 50 MCAs from the Kitui, Machakos and Makueni.

Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi said Mudavadi met MPs from Western to strategise on how to lock out Jubilee and ensure a high voter turn-out.

“Mudavadi was very clear that our region will be key to NASA victory and we must unanimously support the plan and push for a high voter turn-out,” said Mr Osotsi, who is also the ANC party secretary general.

He said NASA was going to the elections as united front. “We initially had sibling rivalry that distracted us at the campaigns but this time round, we are more focused, we will visit every village for votes,” he added.

Mudavadi vowed to push for the exit of some IEBC officials before the fresh polls.

“Some of the IEBC officials who tried to subvert the will of the people have lost moral ground and cannot conduct this election, we will not allow that, we are also calling for investigation into the role of technology suppliers in the bungled poll,” said Mudavadi.

And Moses Oburu said Kenya and particularly the Judiciary had shown the world that democracy can prevail in Africa.

“But moving forward, the world will look to the continent and see how democracy and rule of law based on the values of social justice and the fear of God is manifest,” said Oburu.