Calls for a ‘Raila Tosha’ moment dominated the first day of Azimio's presidential campaign in Mt Kenya, the backyard former President Mwai Kibaki.
Raila Odinga's 2002 clarion call of "Kibaki Tosha!" swept Narc into power, ending Kanu’s 24-year-long rule.
On Tuesday in Nyeri, Azimio leaders led by presidential candidate Raila and running mate Martha Karua made a strong pitch to Mt Kenya voters. It's time for 'Raila Tosha.'
They urged voters to repay the 2002 political debt that helped Kibaki ascend to the presidency.
Karua said the vote-rich region should rally behind Raila to reciprocate for Odinga's crucial support for a son of the region.
“He (Raila) said ‘Kibaki Tosha’ and we were all happy, now here is that man asking for our votes, ” Karua said.
Raila said the region owes him a debt and asked residents to come out in their numbers on August 9 and "return the favour."
“Will you reciprocate on behalf of the late Kibaki?” Raila asked in Othaya, Kibaki’s hometown.
The Azimio leaders also faulted Deputy President William Ruto for what they called increasing disrespect for his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The leaders, who were in Nyeri county, said the DP should be grateful to the President for making him second-in-command, instead of slinging mud at the head of state.
The leaders also said the ongoing insults by Ruto, the UDA flagbearer and Kenya Kwanza leader, demonstrate the Deputy President is unfit to lead the country.
Karua said Raila is level-headed and politically mature, able to lead the country soberly. She contrasted him with Ruto who, she said, is driven by unexplained anger and bitterness.
“If you are a deputy, don't usurp your boss's roles. I am not saying you shouldn't correct colleagues, but do it respectfully," Karua said.
“Respect is not slavery. You respect me and I respect you back. If you cannot respect your boss, how do we trust you to respect the common man?”
Raila said he will take over from where Uhuru’s administration has left off. He dismissed Ruto as the main architect of the high maize prices plaguing Kenyans.
“Ruto is part of the problem, he cannot be part of the solution,” the ODM leader said.
They were responding to a leaked audio clip in which the DP is heard giving an account of how he almost slapped Uhuru in 2017, soon after the Supreme Court nullified their win.
The DP said Uhuru was about to throw in the towel and not take part in the Supreme Court-ordered presidential rerun, thus opening the way for Raila. He has said he was trying to talk sense into him.
They also faulted claim by the DP that he made Uhuru President, dismissing the assertion as part of the larger scheme to undermine the President.
The Raila men also said it was disrespectful for Ruto to say he would hold as many as three political rallies before Uhuru woke up.
Azimio secretary general Junet Mohamed said Kenyans should be very worried at the recent besmirching of Uhuru's good name.
“This country needs respect, someone is saying he wanted to slap the President, if he can talk about a sitting President like that, what can he do when he takes over power?” Junet asked.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said the Kikuyu community had more registered voters compared to Ruto’s Rift Valley during both the 2013 and 2017 elections. He said there was no way the DP could make Uhuru President.
“Mt Kenya had roughly six million votes compared to Rift Valley that had three million votes. The fact of the matter is that it was Uhuru who made Ruto Deputy President,” Joho said.
The leaders addressed rallies in Chaka, Karatina, Mukurueini and Othaya in Nyeri county.
Raila was accompanied by former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Maina Kamanda (nominated MP), Kanini Kega (Kieni), Pamela Odhiambo (Migori MP), Priscilla Nyokabi and Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal, among others.
The Azimio caravan will be in Kiambu county on Wednesday before heading to Kirinyaga, Karua's turf, on Thursday.
They will wrap up their five-day campaign blitz in Kakamega county on Friday and Saturday.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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