Odinga insisted the new Constitution promises a lot of hope for all Kenyans/PMPS
LORUK, Kenya, Dec 14 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga has faulted a section of politicians who have lately proposed some radical amendments to the new Constitution before the document is fully implemented.
He censured the leaders for attempting to subvert the essence of the new law arguing that suggested amendments to scrap the Senate was tailored to dismantle the structure of devolution.
Odinga insisted that the new Constitution promises a lot of hope for all Kenyans as it guarantees the rights of women, the youth and other marginalised groups and should be protected.
At the same time, the PM urged Kenyans to embrace peace during the coming polls to avert a recurrence of events that characterised the 2007 general elections.
He asked candidates contesting various positions during the 2012 polls to uphold democratic ideals and respect the will of the people to prevail even when the outcome of the polls was not pleasant.
The premier made the plea at Loruk market when he launched the construction of the-62 kilometre Loruk-Barpelo tarmac road.
The project which is part of government efforts to open up the region to market outlets beyond the Kenyan borders to Southern Sudan runs from Nakuru through Marigat to Marich before linking to Juba.
Odinga urged communities in the North Rift region to coexist harmoniously but cautioned them against engaging in cattle rustling arguing that such habits aggravated the already volatile security situation in the area.
“We want to see the Marakwet, Pokot, Keiyo, Tugen, and Turkana communities live in peace to avoid the need for recruitment of Police Reservists (KPR) to maintain order in rustling prone areas,” he said.
The premier said the government was even ready to compensate farmers who may opt for the vice to restock the livestock lost during drought, to ensure the practice was a thing of the past.
Odinga who was accompanied by at Least seven Members of Parliament including Cabinet Minister Franklin Bett and Mohamed Elmi made Loruk a divisional headquarter to relieve residents the agony of travelling more than 200 kilometres for administrative services.
During the ground breaking ceremony held at Loruk Centre, the premier emphasised the government’s focus on infrastructure based on the appreciation that roads are the primary mode of transportation in the country.
Odinga underscored that by opening up more roads in the rural areas, the government was making it easier for farmers to transport their produce and access markets so as to maximize their profits.
He later addressed a public rally in Marigat town where he announced government plans to construct a series of dams along the Kerio Valley to contain seasonal flooding occasioned by changing climatic patterns.
Odinga directed the water authorities to undertake a feasibility studies on ways of harnessing rain water into dams to reduce run off that caused flash floods.
The premier expressed fears that failure to conserve the environment especially the ecosystem around the major waters towers might have aggravated global warming largely attributed to the adverse weather phenomena.
He dismissed claims that it was his wish to evict settlers at the Mau complex noting that those were sentiments peddled by politicians bent on gaining cheap political mileage.
He said that the evictions were driven by the urgency to reverse the wanton destruction in the crucial water table.
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