The duo who led dozens of Jubilee Party politicians in a series of campaign meetings that saw them address supporters at the Muthurwa Market, Machakos Country Bus and finally Uhuru Park/PSCU
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 9 – President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto campaigned in Nairobi on Saturday where they told their supporters to turn out in their numbers on October 17 and revalidate the mandate they gave them in the August 8 presidential election annulled by the Supreme Court.
The duo who led dozens of Jubilee Party politicians in a series of campaign meetings that saw them address supporters at the Muthurwa Market, Machakos Country Bus and finally Uhuru Park said the September 1 decision by the apex court will not dissuade the electorate from voting for them again in the fresh presidential poll slated for October 17.
“We want to tell the Supreme Court; at the heart of any democracy is the right of the people to decide and at the centre of every democratic election is not the candidate and their supporters, the electoral agency and their officials, civil society and their sponsors – it is the citizens and their vote,” the DP remarked.
Ruto said a time will come when the court will have to apologize for the decision it made saying the will of the people was completely disregarded.
“Sooner than later you should come to your senses and apologize to the people of Kenya for this great evil you have committed. You cannot sacrifice the vote of the people of Kenya at the altar of the mistakes of the electoral body or any other consideration. The people of Kenya and their decision is Supreme; the Supreme Court is supposed to be submissive to the will of the Kenyan people.”
During the meeting, President Kenyatta once again faulted Opposition chief Raila Odinga for threatening to boycott the October 17 repeat presidential election.
He said Odinga should make up his mind on whether or not he will participate in the polls and desist from issuing threats and treating Kenyans to sideshows.
“We tell him with a lot of respect if he’s not ready for the polls he should keep off so that we can be sworn in and continue building our nation,” said the Head of State.
Kenyatta dismissed as extortionist attempts by the National Super Alliance (NASA) to raise campaign funds through an MPESA paybill number saying the money would be diverted to individual coffers.
Similar comments were made by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko who termed the move by NASA as a fraud.
He wondered why the alliance is yet to explain how it used funds it raised in 2015 through paybill number in the name of paying salaries of striking teachers.
“They have never told us where they took the money they collected. We will not accept this nonsense anymore,” Sonko declared.
President Kenyatta praised Governor Sonko for sealing loopholes in revenue collection which has seen revenues go up significantly.
“Revenue collection has risen from less than Sh17 million per week to Sh40 million under the watch of Sonko. Where did the rest of the money go when they were in charge of Nairobi?” he asked.
Former Westlands MP Fred Gumo who also spoke at the Uhuru Park rally told Odinga to consider quitting politics after numerous failed attempts to ascend to power.
Gumo said the NASA leader’s failure to clinch the presidency was a clear indication that he does not inspire confidence among the electorate.
“When you fail four to five times, a teacher would tell you to go home and marry. The difference between what President Kenyatta got and what Odinga got is huge. It is impossible for him to close the gap,” the ex-minister said.
“Today you (Kenyatta) have spoken like a president. You have been speaking as a Bishop and that is why this man (Odinga) has been making noise. If he is not ready for polls let him tell us so that we can swear you in,” Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen said during the campaign.
His counterpart in the National Assembly expressed similar sentiments exuding confidence in President Kenyatta’s victory come Election Day.
“We defeated the witch; the fellow who likes giving riddles. We want to tell Odinga we will still defeat him in this fresh election,” the Garissa Township MP and Jubilee’s Majority Leader in the National Assembly said.
The rally was also graced by First Lady Marget Kenyatta who told Kenyans to keep peace amid chants of “Mama Yetu” (Our mother) by excited Jubilee supporters.
Also on Saturday, a section of Ukambani leaders led by former Kitui Senator David Musila pledged their unwavering support to President Kenyatta in the October 17 repeat presidential election.
Musila who was addressing a Jubilee Party meeting in Athi River said the community will rally behind Kenyatta because he had a proven track record.
“Enough is enough. We’ve been in government since independence and we cannot decide now to shift to the opposition,” said the former chair of NASA running mate Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Democratic Movement.
Nimrod Mbai who unseated former Kitui West MP Francis Nyenze in the August 8 general elections also made similar remarks saying the Kamba community will not accept to be misled.
Renowned businessman Peter Muthoka who has been spearheading Jubilee campaigns in the region was appointed spokesperson of Jubilee in the Lower Eastern region.
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