•Infotrak last week showed Ruto is still the candidate to beat at 52 per cent with Raila bagging 27 per cent of Mt Kenya’s vote.
•The ODM leader is expected to launch an extensive tour of the Mt Kenya region accompanied by Martha Karua and some leaders.
Image: WILFRED NYANGARESI
Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga will on Friday return to Mt Kenya, one month since he nominated Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua as his running mate.
Raila will be in Murang'a where he will drum up support for his presidential bid.
Karua has been leading the combat to win Mt Kenya to Azimio, a region that has been gravitating towards Deputy President William Ruto in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s succession battle.
Since her nomination in May, Karua has combed the area, an effort that seems to be bearing fruit going by the recent opinion polls indicating the region is no longer Ruto’s playground.
Infotrak last week showed Ruto is still the candidate to beat at 52 per cent with Raila bagging 27 per cent of Mt Kenya’s vote.
The study was conducted from May 23 to 27, one week after Karua’s nomination.
Raila will also tour Meru and the vote-rich Kiambu.
The ODM leader is expected to launch an extensive tour of the Mt Kenya region accompanied by Martha Karua and some leaders.
In Murang’a, Odinga will be accompanied by Sabina Chege (Woman Representative), Jamleck Kamau (governor hopeful), Wangari Mwaniki (Kigumo), Peter Kimari (Mathioya) and Nduati Ngugi (Gatanga) and Waithira Muithirania among others.
Others are Peter Kenneth, Maina Kamanda,Wangoro Mwangi (Embakasi North) ,Karanja Mburu (Kiharu), Anthony Chege (Maragua ),Peter Kinyanjui Ngugi (Kandara) and some MCAs from the region.
They are expected to address rallies at Kandara town centre, Gatunyu, Ndunyu Chege, Makomboki, Kangari town, Kigumo, Muthithi, Kaharati, Saba Saba, Karugia and Kenol.
Before a rally in Murang’a, Odinga will hold a strategy meeting with leaders from the county at Thika Golf Club where he will spell out his agenda for the region.
During Odinga’s latest visit to Murang’a, he promised the residents that once elected he will sort out their water issues, and agriculture concerns saying Uhuru had assured him that fertiliser prices will be reduced.
Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi on Thursday welcomed Raila to the area expressing confidence in Azimio's win.
“Raila will be the fifth president and the deputy president will be Martha Karua,” Kiraitu said.
Speaking on Thursday, Kigumo MP Wangari Mwaniki said that the Azimio government is expected to make the lives of the people easy.
Wangari urged residents to come out in large numbers to interact with Odinga.
She said that the Azimio government will bring services closer to the people of Murang’a, especially on matters of agriculture.
“We are ready for him and we have notified our people to come and learn about his manifestos,” Wangari said.
Mt Kenya MCA caucus chairman Charles Mwangi Ng’ang’a (Ichagaki one) rallied politicians to conduct peaceful campaigns.
He urged them to avoid insults and embrace mature politics that would give room for people to choose their leaders without coercion.
Whoever wins Mt Kenya is regarded as having a head start in August and thus explains why the region has become the epicentre of the State House contest.
On Saturday Azimio will tour Meru, on Sunday they will tour Kiambu, Ongata Rongai, Kiserian, and Ngong on Monday.
From Mt Kenya, Raila’s caravan will head to Isiolo and Samburu on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
The Azimio team will then camp in Marsabit (Thursday) and Mandera (Saturday)for two days before finalising the 10-day marathon with rallies in Wajir (Sunday) and Garissa on June 27.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris