Nasa has called for the lifting of the dusk-to-dawn curfew in
Lamu, Tana River and Garissa counties, terming the move a Jubilee
Government’s strategy to steal votes in the coming elections.
Addressing
hundreds of residents at the Mkunguni Square on Lamu Island on
Saturday, Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga accused the Jubilee
administration of failing to ensure peace and security in the three
counties.
Mr Odinga said the curfew was unwarranted especially at a time when the country was heading to elections.
He
stated that unless the Jubilee administration has ulterior motives with
the curfew, he saw no reason that could stop it from lifting the
curfew.
PEACE
The opposition chief demanded that the government ensures there is peace in the three counties instead of enforcing the dusk-to-dawn curfew.
He said the curfew was negatively affecting the residents of Lamu both economically and socially as their livelihoods solely depended on fishing.
The opposition chief demanded that the government ensures there is peace in the three counties instead of enforcing the dusk-to-dawn curfew.
He said the curfew was negatively affecting the residents of Lamu both economically and socially as their livelihoods solely depended on fishing.
READ: Tana River Muslim clerics oppose curfew
“On several occasions, the government has imposed curfews in Lamu and we haven’t witnessed any changes in as far as security is concerned.
“On several occasions, the government has imposed curfews in Lamu and we haven’t witnessed any changes in as far as security is concerned.
Our fishermen have suffered for long since a curfew stops them from venturing out at night to fish.
“This
is very unfortunate. Lamu does not need a curfew. Let the curfew be
lifted and the government protect people and their property.
Whatever it is that Jubilee plans to achieve with the curfew isn’t genuine.
We
want the curfew lifted immediately because we know it will also affect
the voting pattern in the coming elections,” said Mr Odinga.
He
added; “The government should strengthen the security apparatus instead
of opting for curfews whenever security challenges arise.”
STEAL VOTES
His
running mate and Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka claimed the Jubilee
Government was planning to use the curfew to steal votes in the
forthcoming elections.
He called on Lamu residents to vote out Jubilee in the forthcoming elections.
Mr Musyoka said Nasa will have the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops withdrawn from Somalia if it takes over power on August 8.
“KDF has no business being in Somalia when the country itself is in dire need of security.
“Look
at the rampant insecurity that Jubilee has driven Kenya into. Nasa will
ensure the troops are withdrawn from Somalia so that they can
concentrate on guarding our borders,” said Mr Musyoka.
LANDLESSNESS
Nasa
co-principal Musalia Mudavadi said a Nasa government will also
eliminate landlessness which, he added, had increased drastically during
Jubilee’s tenure with rampant land grabbing reported in Lamu county
where a lot of land is till listed as public, making it easy for
grabbers to illegally acquire through dubious means.
Mr Mudavadi urged residents to vote for a government that supports cheap and affordable education, referring to Nasa.
Bungoma
senator Moses Wetang’ula said a Nasa government will ensure the
construction of the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset)
Corridor project is fast-tracked.
He also said they would set up an industrial park in Lamu to ensure adequate employment for the youth.
LAPSSET PROJECT
Mr Wetang’ula also said Nasa will ensure the county government gets a say in the running of the Lapsset project.
Mr Wetang’ula also said Nasa will ensure the county government gets a say in the running of the Lapsset project.
“The
Jubilee Government is moving the Lapsset project at a very slow pace.
Jubilee has done nothing so far but makes our people suffer and has
increased joblessness. Nasa shall change all that. We want Lamu to be an
economic zone so that people in Shanghai, China, can come to shop
here,” said Mr Wetang’ula.
Earlier, while addressing
residents of Tana River County at the Hola stadium, Mr Odinga termed
August 8 as Kenya’s liberation day.
BASIC COMMODITIES
Mr Odinga accused the Jubilee Government of mismanaging the economy, leading to a rise in the cost of basic commodities.
“At Galana/Kulalu, they misused Sh17 billion and got only 30,000 bags of maize, that is their way,” he said.
He
reiterated that Nasa will have parallel tallying centres to compare
with results from the electoral commission to make sure no vote is
stolen.
“We will make sure there is no curfew on voting day and you must stay at polling stations to guard your votes,” he said.
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