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PM Odinga with Kisauni MP Hassan Joho/REBECCA NDUKU-PMPS

Kenya

Boycotting polls ill-advised, Raila tells coastals

PM Odinga with Kisauni MP Hassan Joho/REBECCA NDUKU-PMPS

KILIFI, Kenya, Apr 13 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga has asked residents of the Coast province to ignore calls to boycott the forthcoming elections noting that such a move will be an exercise in futility.

Raila instead advised them to use their vote as a weapon of much needed change that they want.

The premier said that as a democratic practice, voters had a duty to express their wishes through electing credible leaders who will spearhead change.

‘’Let us be wary of those advocating for the boycott of the elections; refusing to vote will not be a solution. We should instead use our votes to bring the much needed change’’, he said.

Speaking in Chonyi, Kilifi County during the burial of Maria Sidi Munga mother to Bahari MP Benedict Munga, the premier noted the new constitution will ensure that past injustices at the Coast are addressed.

He added the constitution also guarantees devolution of resources to spur development the grassroots.

‘’Let us agree that there was a problem in distribution of resources, and discrimination against the coastal region but we must unite as a country to bring the change that we want,” he advised.

The PM was reacting to low level calls by an outlawed group at the Coastal region for secession, or boycott of election citing marginalization by the central government.

He said these grievances are encompassed in the soon to be established devolved system of government, which provides for the right of communities to manage their affairs and further their development.

Present were Minister for Fisheries Amason Kingi, Assistant Minister Hassan Joho, Malindi MP Gideon Mung’aro and former Minister Katana Ngala.

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