Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga addressing his supporters at
Naroosura market in Narok West Sub-County on June 28, 2017. PHOTO |
GEORGE SAYAGIE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
National Super Alliance flagbearer Raila Odinga on Wednesday
challenged Deputy President William Ruto over the ownership of more than
2,000 hectares of land in Narok that belonged to the family of Kenya’s
second vice-president, the late Joseph Murumbi.
Addressing
a rally at Naroosura market in Narok West constituency, Mr Odinga
claimed Mr Ruto was abetting corruption and should explain how he
acquired the 2,700ha tract near Lolgorian.
“Land is an
emotive issue in Narok and, instead of taking the burden off the
shoulders of Kenyans, Jubilee leaders have concentrated on amassing
wealth,” Mr Odinga said.
Mr Ruto is alleged to have
acquired the Intona Ranch land after paying off a loan owed to the
Agricultural Finance Corporation by Murumbi.
DEFAULT IN PAYMENT
A
group of 99 members of the Moitanik clan also laid claim to the land,
and a court judgment ruled that the resource be divided between AFC and
the community.
There was default in repayment, prompting AFC to demand settlement of the outstanding amount.
When
that failed AFC, through Dawning Agencies and Auctioneers, advertised
the property for sale by public auction, and the land was allegedly
bought by the DP.
The Nasa flagbearer, who is on a two-day campaign tour of Narok County, repeated calls to the Maasai community not to sell their land, pointing out that it will not help alleviate poverty.
STRUCTURAL PROBLEM
Mr
Odinga said poverty was “a structural problem” that needed a
multi-pronged approach to address and can only be fought by a competent
administration.
“A Nasa
government will prioritise poverty alleviation by putting in place
measures to ensure resources trickle down to wananchi instead of
remaining in the hands of a few,” said Mr Odinga.
The ODM leader criticised the government over the high cost of living caused by skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.
Mr
Odinga said President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration had failed to put
in place proper mechanisms to address food security once and for all.
MORE PROMISES
“The price of unga and sugar has shot up but, correspondingly, salaries remain where they have been for years.”
Wiper
leader Kalonzo Musyoka told off Jubilee leaders over their
newly-released manifesto, saying they should be showing their scorecard
for the last four years instead of piling up more promises.
“How
can they bore Kenyans with more promises when wananchi expect to see
the work they did for the last four years?” said Mr Musyoka in Enoosaen
in Transmara West.
ANC leader
Musalia Mudavadi said Nasa had good plans for the Maasai community
should it ascend to power. “We will make sure Maasai interests and all
pastoral communities are taken care of,” he said.
SELL THEIR LAND
The
three were accompanied by co-principals Moses Wetang’ula and Isaac
Ruto, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and MPs Junet Mohamed and Mathew
Lempurkel.
Mr Musyoka dared
the government to arrest Mr Odinga over his statement in Kajiado calling
on residents not to sell their land, saying it will meet the fury of
their supporters.
Mr Joho promised that, if it wins the election, Nasa will offset loans owed to AFC by sugarcane farmers.
He
said that although the government recently paid loans owed to
cooperatives by miraa farmers in Meru, it had ignored the plight of
sugarcane farmers.
He urged Nasa supporters to turn out in large numbers to vote out the Jubilee administration and replace it with “fresh brooms.”
MARGINALISED REGIONS
“Don’t stay in your homes on election day and then expect us to win. Everyone’s vote counts on that day,” said Mr Joho.
Mr Mohamed, the Suna East MP, said Nasa had solutions to problems facing marginalised regions.
Mr
Ruto said the Kipsigis community had switched allegiance to the
Opposition after waiting in vain for the government to make good its
2013 promises.
“Kenyans
everywhere face the same problem of scarcity of food and, as a result,
we have moved on. We are not unaware that only Nasa has the interests of
the poor at heart,” said Mr Ruto.
BRING CHANGE
At
Naroosura market, Mr Odinga criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary
Joseph Nkaissery for threatening Maasai leaders, and “persecuting” them
as if he was not part of the community.
The
Nasa brigade flew to Naroosura market in Narok West and addressed their
supporters before heading to Enoosaen in Kilgoris and later to Emurua
Dikirr.
Mr Odinga told the
crowd: “Jubilee cheated Kenyans that they are ready to bring change but
they failed to implement their promises. Where is the laptop project?
What happened to the reduction of the high cost of living?”
He said the Nasa manifesto launched on Tuesday gave proper attention to free education from nursery school.
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