Raila rallies Coast residents to register as voters

Cord principal Raila Odinga (left) joins Muslim faithfuls at Fort Jesus, Mombasa, in breaking the fast during an Iftar dinner, July 14, 2015. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• The former prime minister however, did not comment on remarks by Kwale Senator Boy Juma Boy and some MPs that the opposition would boycott the elections if the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is not reconstituted.
• Senator Omar said he would join other leaders to ensure they meet the IEBC target of 2.4 million voters in the Coast region.
• Mr Boy supported the call by his Machakos counterpart Johnstone Muthama in stating that the Opposition would boycott the next elections if IEBC will not be reconstituted.

Cord leader Raila Odinga has asked Coast residents to register in large numbers as voters ahead of the next elections.

Mr Odinga urged the residents to obtain national ID cards in readiness for voting in the the 2017 General Election, alleging that a huge number of them were "denied" the cards.

Mr Odinga spoke on Tuesday night at a breaking-of-fast (Iftar) dinner hosted by Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar at Fort Jesus.

"Many people were left out in the past election. The time is now. I ask everyone to register as a citizen by getting their national identity card. The card will make you eligible to register as a voter as we prepare for the next General Election," Mr Odinga said.

The former prime minister, however, did not comment on remarks by Kwale Senator Boy Juma Boy and some MPs that the Opposition would boycott the elections if the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is not reconstituted.

Mr Odinga, who is also the Orange Democratic Party leader, accused police of failing to investigate extrajudicial killing in the country, which have outnumbered deaths due to terrorism.

“Imams have been killed in Mombasa, but no one has been arrested. Same to Wajir and Mandera. Mombasa was peaceful — one could even sleep in the open. Tension has gripped the town. The economy has collapsed. Tourism has collapsed. Between 30,00 and 40,00 youths have been retrenched as a result of insecurity,” he said.

The Cord leader said neighbouring Somalia was not to blame for the high rates of insecurity.

“Insecurity is not because we border Somalia. Ethiopia neighbours Somalia and they have their troops there. Terrorists are not entering there because security agencies are diligently doing their work. Detectives there are doing their work as required, leading to arrests before entry. The same to Djibouti. We must reform the security sector” he said.

STALLING POLICE REFORMS

Mr Odinga blamed the Jubilee government for stalling police reforms, which were meant to streamline operations for an effective force, adding that the administration is only concentrating on corrupt dealings.

He took a swipe at Deputy President William Ruto’s contributions to fundraisers, saying he must tell Kenya where he gets the money from.

“The work of Jubilee is to check how they can get something in tenders and increments of prices. Deputy President’s salary is below Sh2million, but every month he contributes to harambees up to Sh50 million. He claims he is generous.

Which companies do you have that can generate such amount every month? Tell us it is government money you are giving out,” Mr Odinga said.

Senator Omar said he would join other leaders to ensure they meet the IEBC target of 2.4 million voters in the Coast region.

“The region must register more than two million voters before the next elections. But again, registering and failing to vote does not make sense. People must move out and exercise this constitutional right,” Mr Omar said.

“In the 2013, the commission targeted to register 1.4 million voters. They got 1.1 million. It was unfortunate that only 800,000 turned out to vote.  Please, if you want us to be safe, you must register and vote. Failure to do so gives our opponents a chance to claim ‘tyranny of numbers’,”

SUPPORT THROUGH ACTION

Jomvu MP Badi Twalib challenged Coast people saying drumming up support for Mr Raila has to be in action, not by "word" alone.

“The weapon of winning elections is registering as a voter. Not just by mouth. The weapon of capturing the mantle of power is voting after registering. I ask the youth, women and men to get this tool, to propel our leaders Mr Raila, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka and Mr Moses Wetang'ula to State House in 2017,” he said.

Mr Boy supported the call by his Machakos counterpart Johnstone Muthama in stating that the Opposition would boycott the next elections if IEBC will not be reconstituted.

“Cord does not fear clashing with Jubilee, but Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission must be re-formed for fair elections.

“My leader (Mr Odinga) has said we are not going to take part in 2017, we support him, we are not going for elections with this IEBC,” the senator said.

He claimed the commission has no moral authority to preside over the exercise because investigations into their involvement in the famous "Chickengate" have not absolved them from blame.

Nairobi’s Embakasi MP Irshadali Sumra alleged that there was bias in the issuance of IDs, with Cord allied strongholds having less resources for the exercise.