Raila promises meaningful jobs, asks Coast to reject wheelbarrows

ODM leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday promised what he calls meaningful jobs as he rallied the Coast to once again vote for him in the 2022 polls.

Raila said Kenya has the potential to create dignified jobs for its people and urged the youth to reject Deputy President William Ruto's wheelbarrow politics.

“We shall create meaningful jobs, not pushing wheelbarrows. Don't be coned by people telling you that kazi ni kazi (any work is work),” Raila told a rally in Ukunda.

He said even youths without tertiary education could still be trained to get skills to enable them to get decent incomes.

“Our youths can become mechanics, plumbers, carpenters,” he said. 

The former premier reiterated his promise of a seven-year tax holiday for youth-owned enterprises, universal healthcare for all, and free education right from nursery to university.

Raila said his strategy is to spur economic development at the grassroots through his uchumi mashinani slogan.

The ODM leader said he has witnessed the indignity poor people go through to get quality medical care, including having the bodies of their loved ones detained by hospitals.

“What kind of country is that! A nation of cruelty,” Raila said, narrating the story of a family whose child died after being denied admission to hospital for lacking a deposit fee.

Earlier, Raila met with Kwale ODM members and urged them to remain united to avoid a repetition of the Msambweni by-election loss, which he blamed on party wrangles.

The parliamentary by-election was held on December 15, 2020. ODM candidate Omar Boga lost to Independent candidate Feisal Bader who had ditched the Orange party and got the backing of the Deputy President.

Raila said to successfully win the presidential battle, party members must remain loyal and strong.

"As a party, we must work in harmony and move together to beat our enemies," he said.

Raila said working in factions is not healthy for the party, hence members must under all circumstances stick together.

He said the 2022 politics will be a bruising battle, warning party members not to underestimate the contest.

"Let's not cheat ourselves that things will be easy, that's why we must take precaution, solve our differences and face the enemy as one," he said.

Raila told party members that ODM is a democratic party and will ensure fairness. He said for party harmony, ODM will streamline the nomination process for fairness and justice to prevail.

He said the party will have room for candidates’ consultation, delegates selection, party members voting and part direct nomination whose decision will be achieved via credible and verifiable opinion polls.

Raila said they are seeking more alliances to strengthen the party. He said for equality, they will be consulting on whom to be endorsed to run for a particular seat in an area.

"We will make decisions as one with various political parties to decide which candidate of a certain party should be supported," he said.

Raila said with unity, the party can achieve its agenda of economic revolution. He said ODM has solutions to the ailing economy and will soon announce them.

The ODM leader said they will boost the grassroots economy and empower youth and women by providing jobs.

Raila said once he is elected president, he will ensure the blue economy and agricultural opportunities are exhausted to improve lives and livelihoods.

He added that he will set food processing industries to improve food security and fight poverty and hunger. He also pledged to end the protracted land injustices and corruption.

He was accompanied by Siaya Senator James Orengo, his Kwale counterpart Issa Boi, Kwale Woman Rep Zulekha Juma, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, Sheikh Juma Ngao and Royal Media Services CEO SK Macharia.

Raila held a rally in Ukunda, Lunga-Lunga before heading to Mombasa.

-Edited by SKanyara