NASA rallies Coast to turn up in big numbers

NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga addresses locals at Mtwapa grounds in Kilifi County. He urged locals to turn out in large numbers and vote for him on August 8. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

NASA has called on residents of Coast region to turn out in large numbers and vote for the Opposition in August.

Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka lamented the region has over the years registered low voter turnout and urged the electorate to change the trend this year.

The two said there must be a change of attitude among the masses if they want to see President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Jubilee party sent home in the coming elections.

Land reforms

The NASA leaders, who addressed rallies in Mtwapa, Ganze, Magarini and Malindi, also promised to implement the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) findings in order to realise comprehensive land reforms in the region.

The Opposition also castigated the Jubilee administration over claims it is threatening the Judiciary over its recent decision to nullify the presidential ballot printing tender.

Kalonzo noted that the region has been registering a voter turnout of less than 60 per cent on the voting day.

“This must change this time round so you can help us send Jubilee home,” he said.

He added: “Jubilee still does not have support of this region even after buying a few leaders.”

Speaking in Watamu, Kilifi County, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula, and senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Stewards Madzayo (Kilifi) accused President Kenyatta of a plot to rig elections.

“You are not above the law to attack and intimidate independent institutions just because they are not favouring you in their work,” said Wetang’ula. This was after Orengo alleged Uhuru tried to intimidate the courts.

Wetang’ula alleged Uhuru did not win the 2013 elections and was also planning to rig the 2017 polls.

“However, NASA has learnt from its past mistakes and will not allow vote manipulation.

“We have sealed all loopholes by sending Orengo to court to fight for us,” Wetang’ula said.

Orengo welcomed IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati’s decision not to appeal the court verdict but instead meet all presidential candidates over the ballots printing tender.

Mudavadi rallied the electorate to vote for Raila to honour his role in the second liberation.

Orengo said Jubilee leaders had run out of ideas and were now attacking independent institutions and intimidating them.

“If you want to know a leader has panicked, listen to what Uhuru said this morning (Sunday) by trying to intimidate the courts,” he added.

Orengo, Musalia and Wetang’ula toured Ganze, Gongoni, Watamu before convening in Malindi with the Raila-Kalonzo team for another rally.

Mombasa Governor Hassan  Joho, who was in the Raila team, accused Jubilee of refusing to implement the TJRC report and persecuting him together with his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi ‘for opposing their oppressive policies’.

Parallel count

They urged local residents to ‘avenge this humiliation’ by turning out in large numbers to vote Jubilee out.

Raila and Kalonzo urged youths to conduct door-to-door campaigns, urging residents to come out and vote.

“We are going to have a parallel count, transmission and announcement of the results. We urge police officers not to intimidate the youths or frighten voters,” Raila said.

Raila criticised Jubilee for failing to implement the TJRC report which he said provided all the answers for the persistent land problems at the Coast.

“NASA will implement the TJRC report immediately it is voted in. We will address historical injustices and end the issue of squatters in Coast,” Raila said.