ODM leader Raila Odinga on Sunday took his Azimio la Umoja campaigns to Laikipia rallying residents to back the unity bid he launched in Nakuru early this month.
The former Prime Minister, while addressing a roadside meeting after attending a service at PCEA Church, Nanyuki town, asked residents to shun leaders with no proper plans to transform Kenyans’ lives.
Raila said he has plans to “end the sadness among the citizenry and bring happiness in the faces of Kenyans” saying the same was possible by creating opportunities for meaningful jobs.
“We need to fight diseases, ignorance, poverty, and bad governance. We can do this but we need to first look at ways of changing our sorry situation,” the ODM leader said.
He trashed the Kazi ni Kazi (work is work) mantra by the Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) saying Kenyans deserved better jobs.
Raila cited the case of China removing over 300 million people from poverty to riches saying it was possible to move 20 million Kenyans out of poverty as well.
“We can do it here. We can take 20 million Kenyans out of poverty. In doing this, they must be skilled and be given opportunities to use the skills they have acquired. We pledge more training and meaningful jobs,” he said.
The ODM leader was accompanied by Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga, Siaya Senator James Orengo, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’, Homa Bay MP Gladys Wanga, and ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna.
Raila also backed calls by church leaders to ban political debates in pulpits saying the church is a place for spiritual nourishment.
Even so, the ODM chief delivered a message, reading from the Bible’s Psalms 133 which states that, “how pleasant it is for people to dwell in peace and unity.”
Raila said the word mirrored his call for unity which he initiated three weeks ago in Nakuru, and which has been hailed as the platform for his yet-to-be declared 2022 bid.
“There is no better time to call for unity than now when we are facing an election,” the ODM leader said, adding that there were already a sign to worry as the country hurtles to the polls.
He condemned the acts of cattle rustling in the region which has left over 10 dead, several injured and property worth millions stolen or destroyed by bandits.
“We are concerned that innocent lives are being lost in senseless conflict. Let the persons behind the attacks respect the sanctity of life and for our security agencies to protect lives of citizens,” Raila added.
He told the congregants to borrow a leaf from the country’s founding fathers who had envisioned the Kenyan dream and had the same embedded in the national anthem.
The ODM leader pledged to fight for good governance and deliver Kenyans to Canaan.
