BVR tender hot topic in rallies
United Republican Party URP Presidential Candidate William Ruto addressing a campaign rally at Oldonyorok in Trans Mara West district on Sunday. Photo/Edwin Nyarangi
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Musalia Mudavadi addresses UDF Party supporters at Soko Mjinga at Kinale trading centre as he started his one-day campaign in Nyandarua County on Monday, July 30, 2012. He is accompanied by UDF Party allied leaders, Boni Khalwale (MP for Ikolomani), Jeremiah Kioni (MP for Ndaragwa), Dr Mukhisa Kituyi (former Cabinet Minister), Nderitu Muriithi (MP for Laikipia West), local leaders, among others. Other areas Mudavadi had stopovers included Kwaraka, Njambini, Kinangop Photo/DPMPS
The move by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to terminate the controversial biometrics voter registration tender is likely to dominate rallies across the country as presidential contenders go out to fish for votes. Already Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has expressed disappointment over the move, a day after the commission made the announcement. Mudavadi is set to the take the debate to the people's court this weekend when he pitches camp in Nairobi's Westlands and Dagorreti constituencies on Saturday and Sunday. His UDF party yesterday posted in its website a question asking Kenyans their thoughts on the manual voting system.
On Tuesday, ODM rejected the BVR deal and demanded that IEBC reverts to the old manual system although it was condemned by the Kreigler commission which said the 2007 elections were so flawed that it was easy to know who won.
Eldoret North MP William Ruto, who was in Embu yesterday, will head to Meru today, in a three day tour that will end on Sunday. Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was in Nyandarua yesterday, will head to Dol Dol and Nanyuki in Laikipia county. Narc-Kenya's Martha Karua will be in the city to attend a women's forum at the NPC Valley Road on Saturday morning before going for Public Health minister Beth Mugo's thanksgiving.
Mudavadi's counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prof James ole Kiyiapi will all be in a vote-hunting mission in Kajiado county.Tomorrow, Uhuru will be in Kajiado North while Kalonzo will be in Bisil, Kajiado Central, for a rally. Kiyiapi will be in Magadi on Saturday for a wedding before retreating to Ngong for a town hall meeting with Maasai leaders on Sunday.
Planning assistant minister Peter Kenneth on his part will today (Friday) be in Kisumu County for vote hunting where he is also expected to attend a peace festival. The Kenya National Congress (KNC) presidential hopeful will then tomorrow (Saturday) head to Trans Mara where he will hold meetings in four different schools. On Sunday, Kenneth is expected tour parts of Narok South before returning to Ongata Rongai in Kajiado County to drum up support for KNC's Kajiado North parliamentary candidate Peter Munene of is presently Kiserian ward councillor. The by elections to replace late minister George Saitoti will be conducted on September 17.