Raila preaches unity, helps out police brutality victims

Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga holds two-year-old Shantel Mary during a rally at Prophet Owuor Grounds in Kibos, Kisumu, on October 20, 2017. Mary suffered a gunshot wound inflicted during demonstrations in the county. Mr Odinga urged residents not to fight each other. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Mr Odinga largely preached peace, urging supporters not to attack traders and supporters of Jubilee.
• Mr Odinga accused the government of plotting to use the military to coerce voters to take part in polls.

By JUSTUS OCHIENG'
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By NELCON ODHIAMBO
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National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga is promising a “way forward” to his supporters on October 25, just a day to the scheduled election he insists will not happen.

In speeches during rallies in Bondo and Kisumu, Mr Odinga largely preached peace, urging supporters not to attack traders and supporters of Jubilee.

He specifically mentioned the Kikuyu community, saying they have equally suffered despite sharing ethnic identity with President Uhuru Kenyatta, his competitor in the poll held on August 8.

NO ELECTION

He also mentioned the Abagusii, cautioning supporters against targeting them because of acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, whom he accused of being high-handed on Nasa protesters.

Mr Odinga accused the government of plotting to use the military to coerce voters to take part in polls.

“I will give a way forward on October 25. But the President should know that there will be no election,” Mr Odinga told supporters at the Oginga Odinga Park in Bondo, Siaya County.

“I can assure you we shall conclude this matter in an amicable way,” he said without elaborating.

IEBC REFORMS
Mr Odinga, alongside his Nasa co-principal Musalia Mudavadi, Siaya Senator James Orengo, Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Homa Bay’s Cyprian Awiti were in Bondo and Kisumu to honour the people shot dead in the anti-IEBC demos.

The two towns were the hardest hit in demonstrations Nasa called to press for reforms in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which it accuses of stealing their victory on August 8.

Also present were former Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama and MPs John Mbadi (Suba South), Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), Mishi Moko (Likoni), Babu Owino (Embakasi East) and Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), among others.

Mr Odinga announced a Sh100,000 donation to each of the families affected by police brutality.

MILITARY
His running mate Kalonzo Musyoka, speaking on phone from Germany, told the crowd there will be no election.

Mr Musyoka said he was in Germany “on an important” mission but could not elaborate.

The leaders also dragged the military back in the election story, saying the disciplined forces had been ordered to ensure the election takes place, however, controversial.

Senator Orengo said that they have information that the government has deployed the military to compel the opposition supporters to participate in the poll.

“The deployment of the military recruited from Lanet is to force voters Nasa supporters to participate.

“You cannot militarise the election as elections are about ballots and not bullets. In international standards, that makes the election invalid,” Mr Orengo said.

PROTESTERS
Before the August elections, Nasa had made similar claims, which the Kenya Defence Forces denied, saying it is apolitical.

But Mr Odinga accused the President of authorising shoot-to-kill orders by the police, who killed four protesters.

Three of them were shot dead in Bondo on Monday.

“Uhuru should know that I am his opponent and not the demonstrators. He should instead point the gun at me rather than kill innocent Kenyans,” Mr Odinga said.

ECONOMY

On Friday, Mr Odinga issued a passionate plea to supporters not to attack members from communities perceived to support his rival Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Do not attack innocent people. That Kikuyu businessman here in Bondo is innocent. They have nothing to do with what we are facing today.

"Please, please, please. No one, no Kikuyu, should be punished for the sins of Uhuru. If God punishes him, it will be him alone,” he said calling on communities to live in harmony.

“It is shameful for you [Kenyans] who face the same problems to turn against each other as a way of showing support for their leaders, I want you to stop this please,” Mr Odinga pleaded.

TRIBALISM
He said he had realised that members of the Luo community were keen on revenge and are attacking other communities, especially Kikuyus and Somalis, following police brutality, which has led to deaths and injuries of people in Nyanza.

My appeal to my supporters is to embrace them as way patriotism,” he said.

“All Kenyans are together. Everywhere I go, they call me Baba, don’t you see?

"I went to a funeral in Kiambu, the people there called me Baba before him [Uhuru Kenyatta]. So, it is not the people, it is a few leaders who are causing the problem.”