• The party, whose leader is Mandera Governor Ali Roba, has been tailored to ring-fence the Northeastern vote bloc for Raila.
• The delegates, an affiliate party of Azimio la Umoja movement, endorsed the opposition chief for the country’s top seat.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Opposition chief Raila Odinga has pledged a revolutionary marshal plan for the Northern Kenya region within 100 days in office if elected President.
This even as Raila’s presidential bid got a major boost after leaders from Northern Kenya promised to back his candidature in the upcoming polls.
“Pastoralists are very important people and my government will ensure it considers their plight through creating opportunities aimed at ensuring that Livestock production is enhanced even in the cases of drought,” he said.
The ODM leader spoke during the United Democratic Movement (UDM) national delegates’ convention at Bomas of Kenya.
The party, whose leader is Mandera Governor Ali Roba, is been tailored to ring-fence the Northeastern vote bloc for Raila.
The delegates, an affiliate party of the Azimio la Umoja movement, endorsed the opposition chief for the country’s top seat.
The delegates also okayed the party to join Azimio la Umoja.
The delegates approved new party colours - red, yellow and black- as well as symbols - he goat
The convention also ratified the party's partnership with President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee party.
“UDM endorses the Right Hon Raila Odinga as its Presidential candidate for the 2022 general election,” party lawyer Issa Mansur readout.
Raila said he will prioritize the poor road network as well as address the runaway insecurity alluding that the region has been marginalized for decades.
Just like Botswana, which is a largely Arid and Semi-arid country and whose economy is dependent on livestock, he said, he will roll out an ambitious economic empowerment plan for livestock farmers that will see the region export their meat abroad.
“What Botswana has done is that they harvest water in large quantities and store it when drought strikes, they have water and food reservoir for their livestock, this is what will happen this region if elected president, because, it will be a lasting solution to drought and hunger that has persisted in Northern Region,” he said.
“We don’t want a farmer with at least 1000 livestock to lose his cattle because of drought, that is not fair, we have the goodwill and the intention to deliver to our people,” he added.
With a plentiful of livestock, he said, his government will build the largest slaughterhouse and industries where they will process meat for export as well as establish a leather company in the region.
“As I said on Wednesday in Wajir County, we will export meat to Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and other parts of the world.”
“With Wajir International Airport, that allows large planes. This will be an economic revolution that will benefit Wajir residents,” he added.
“This will bring us trillions in foreign income that will be the biggest contributor to the economy,” he held.
He said, knows, the troubles bedevilling each county having served as a prime minister.
Governor Roba said UDM has ‘locked’ Northeastern for Raila adding that they will embark on aggressive grassroots campaigns for the ODM boss.
“We want to assure that as delegates from 10 counties of Northern Kenya, we will support and campaign for you until you enter State House.