Prime Minister Raila Odinga
Prime Minister Raila Odinga wound up his two-day tour of Northern Kenya today with a mammoth rally at the Garissa stadium attended by over 30 MPs, including cabinet Ministers and assistant ministers.
At different venues, the PM challenged residents of Northern Kenya to be prepared to shape their destiny saying the new constitution the area supported overwhelmingly was transferring power to the people.
He asked fellow politicians to "take time and internalize the changes that have come with the new constitution."
"Kenya has changed tremendously with the coming of the new constitution and it will continue to change. After 2012, this country is not going to be the same again. The structures that have come with the new laws dictate that old approaches will not work. Even communities will not necessarily stick together. Power is going to the people. The people are going to depend on themselves and the leaders they choose. It is no longer going to be about who is president," the PM told a rally in Moyale where he also met community leaders.
The PM led thousands of supporters gathered at the stadium in condemning the KKK group, terming it opportunistic and made up of elements out to sabotage reforms.
Differences in the party saw the residents reject their MP Mr Aden Duale, whom they accused of being part of the team led by Eldoret North MP Mr William Ruto, a key member of the KKK group.
The crowd rejected several attempts by the MP to address them and introduce the leaders accompanying the Prime Minister.
Mr Odinga had to intervene to calm the crowd and introduce members of his delegation. But even after calm was restored, the crowd rose in unanimity against Mr Duale, whom the PM tried to help address the rally.
Three times, the crowd asked the MP to take his seat, saying they no longer recognize him as they believe he had abandoned ODM.
Addressing the crowd, Mr Odinga said the KKK group is made up of people blinded by hate and chauvinism and who had thrown caution to the wind in their search for power.
The PM said ethnic alliances would frustrate attempts to reconcile the country adding they would scare communities that have always felt marginalized since independence.
The PM, who began his tour of the region on Monday, launched the distribution of relief food and inaugurated boreholes in Moyale and Wajir on Tuesday, before heading to Garissa for a meeting with youth leaders ending up with a rally.
He asked the Kenya Meat Commission to begin buying livestock in the region at between Sh10,000 and Sh12,000 to save the pastoralists from losses. He also asked residents with lorries to partner with the government in distributing water to dry areas at a fee.
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who was in Mandera today to distribute relief supplies, joined Mr Odinga for the final rally in Garissa.
Mr Odinga asked Kenyans to judge their leaders by the content of their character, their ideas and policies and not age.
He said the world is full of leaders who took charge of their countries at advanced age and did their citizens proud through policies that moved their nations forward. He cited Nelson Mandela as example.
The PM said some of those crusading for a generational change of leadership have nothing to show the country for their years as youth, adding that some have spent their youthful years plundering the country.
He said the new constitution has strict criteria on who can lead Kenya and challenged voters to take a critical look at the past of each of those expressing desire to lead the country.
"Some people want to lead the country when their records clearly show they belong somewhere else, not in leadership positions," the PM said.
Ministers Fred Gumo, Joe Nyagah, Mohamed Elmi, James Orengo and Otieno Kajwang accompanied the PM.
Others were assistant ministers Ferdinand Waititu, Elizabeth Ongoro, Alfred Khangati, Ayiecho Olweny and Mohamud Mohammed.
MPs Justus Kizito, Yusuf Chanzu, Omondi Anyanga, Hassan Joho, Rev Julius Murgor and Mr Litole, among others also accompanied him.
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