Railas Warning to CORD on 2017 Elections
CORD supporters in Western and Nyanza regions must get national identity cards and register to vote or forget winning the 2017 General Election.
This warning was delivered by CORD and ODM’s Raila Odinga when he and other CORD leaders urged their supporters to get voter cards in readiness for what he said will be an epic contest in 2017.
An opinion poll by Ipsos shows that Western Kenya has the lowest voter awareness in Kenya.
Raila was addressing mourners at the burial of Joan Argwings Kodhek, the widow of former freedom fighter Argwings CMGKodhek, in Gem, Siaya County.
Lack of national identification cards and poor voter registration in Western and Nyanza regions are worrying leaders of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).
CORD co-principal and ODM leader Raila Odinga made an impassioned plea to his supporters in Nyanza to register as voters in readiness for the 2017 General Election.
He asked the residents to obtain IDs and register as voters in large numbers, saying the mother of all political battles - the 2017 elections - was approaching fast.
Raila emphasised that Nyanza residents must register in large numbers as voters to give him a headstart in his bid to become Kenyas fourth Head of State.
"You can be our foot soldiers only when you have IDs and voter cards. You must therefore take the voter registration process seriously," he reiterated.
Analysts have partly blamed Railas loss to President Uhuru Kenyatta in the last election to low voter turnout in Western and Nyanza regions.
An opinion poll by Ipsos Synovate shows that Western Kenya has the lowest voter awareness levels in Kenya.
The pollster said only 10 per cent of residents in the region were aware of any ongoing voter registration in their locality since the 2013 elections.
He was addressing mourners at the burial of Joan Argwings Kodhek, the widow of former freedom fighter Argwings CMG Kodhek, in Gem, Siaya County.
"Current records indicate that the people from the Jubilee strongholds have registered for IDs and voter cards more than those from CORD zones. This should change because, as you all know, leadership is captured through votes," Raila said.
Speaking separately to The Standard, Ford Kenya Secretary General Eseli Simiyu pressed the Government to speed up the issuing of IDs, arguing that voter registration awareness alone was not helpful.
"Voter registration awareness doesnt help unless people have IDs. Yet for those who applied for IDs, only a few have received them. The rest are still stuck in Nairobi," said Simiyu.
Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga (ODM) accused CORD legislators of not doing enough to rally their supporters to take up IDs and register as voters.
"We have a golden opportunity to ensure that we tell our supporters across the country to get IDs so that they can register as voters to cast their ballot in 2017. We are tired of saying our victory was stolen," Mr Anyanga said.
Eligible persons
Lugari MP Ayub Savula, whose party UDF is in the Amani Coalition, agreed with Anyanga.
He said Busia, Trans Nzioa, Kakamega, Bungoma and Vihiga counties could get at least six million votes if all eligible persons registered.
"I am only leading the Western region to register as voters. If all the eligible voters registered, we shall have a stake in the next government. The only problem is most of the people who have applied for IDs have not received them," said Mr Savula.
Raila has already declared he will make a fourth stab at the Presidency in 2017, although his colleagues in CORD, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, his running mate in the 2013 polls, and Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetangula insist that they, too, are in the race.
Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo asked residents not to lose hope, saying Raila had better chances to be President in 2017.
"You know how far we have come. We are almost getting to our destination and therefore registering for IDs is not a favour," he said.
"We have one chance to win the Presidency but if we dont register as voters, then we will lose it. We have enough votes from Western and Nyanza region to boost Railas bid," he added.
- standardmedia.co.ke
Comments
It's all about power,nothing
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It's all about power,nothing else to tell the people and who's gonna benefit if You will be elected to the Presidency?? Common mwananchi? I doubt
"We have one chance to win
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"We have one chance to win the Presidency but...." Are these people saying all Nyanza, despite its many brilliant people cannot raise a man who can win the hearts of Kenyans? Bullying will never work, as Raila has discovered by now...
This a kenyans enthnic groups
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This a kenyans enthnic groups demographics.
Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Embu 3% other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
Gemas will account 31% of kenya population= kikuyus+embus(mbere) + merus..
You add kalenjins 12% . 31+12+= 43. simple maths. Kisii atleast 50% will vote jubilee.. Kambas worst case scnerio 40% will vote jubilee. coast atleast 20%. North eastern represent about 7% of polpulation atleast 50% will vote jubilee.. Please do simple maths.
GEMAS AND KAMBAS WILL HAVE
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GEMAS AND KAMBAS WILL HAVE MAJORITY OVER 18YRS COMPARED TO LUHYAS .Those eligible to vote. LUOS ALSO MOST IS OVER 18YRS. Always election will bestolen to cryaila. Next time cause chaos and will know is no more kibaki in power..
Here i am again. Luyha is not
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Here i am again. Luyha is not a tribe,. It was created by Masinde Muliro for politcal purpose vote as block or fight as block. Thus how GEMAS, kalenjins were created. A meru and kikuyu can speak almost clear to each other than subtribes of luhyas..
Why bother languages??
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Why bother languages?? because luhyas will not fully agree on one.. Another 30% jubilee no matter what:;';;'
52 years ago today the people
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52 years ago today the people Kenyans celebrated their first Madaraka day. It is unfortunate that a few "forces of evil" are still dividing the people of Kenya into their ethnic communities.
We need a national leader. This or woman should be able to unite all the people of Kenya and distribute leadership positions across the entire nation.
Since independence, no president or prime minister has taken into account the existing 42 communities when appointing people in key positions.
The current Jubilee leaders have been the worst performers in appointing competent people in key positions during the last 52 years of our young nation of Kenya since 1963.
We all thought that their being young will make a difference in appointing national leaders. We were dead wrong! they will be remembered in history as the most insensitive leaders who did not take into account the 42 existing communities of the people of Kenya!
In appointing leaders (in future), we should follow the US model where every state has two senators regardless of the size or the population of the state. That way, the current overrepresentation of the two communities of Kenya in key positions should not be allowed to happen again.
Kwani huyu @heshima ni mjinga
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Kwani huyu @heshima ni mjinga wa wapi?Who told you an appointee from your tribe represents you?It's better for you and other foolish tribalists to know that a nominated MP,Judge,commissioner,minister or anybody employed by the govt from your tribe represents himself or herself not you and your UPUUZI wa KABILA.Hata HAKUTAMBUI wala HATAKI KUJUA KIASHI CHAKO CHA UJINGA
Baraka Oyula - why do you
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Baraka Oyula - why do you always poke your nose in matters that you have very limited understanding of? You seem to have a tendency of exposing your ignorance each time you pound on the keyboard with those sticky fingers of yours. Do yourself a favor; cease and desist from posting rubbish comments in public domain.
So every US State has two
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So every US State has two Senators, what's the difference with what is done in Kenya today? How does that equate to your "tribe" representation? Senators are elected figures, so you want Jubilee to pick your tribe to be Senators and do away with the counties election which elects them? kweli ignorance is a horrible vice.
Do our brothers in Western
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Do our brothers in Western Region ever think live will continue after their god-RAO expires?Why do they think that if RAO wins their tribes win?I even heard that the Luhya communities were made to believe that a Luhya presidency will only come after a kihii from the lakeside rules,a superstition planted on them by their late god called Masinde.RUBBISH.AMKENI JAMENI
"Eddy," I gave a simple
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"Eddy," I gave a simple example that illustrates how to rectify the "evils" that the current Jubilee Alliance had done to the other 40 communities that make up the current Republic of Kenya when it comes to important job allocation. Your taunts justifies your current unstable state of mind!
I am asking you to have the courage to look into all the national appointments made by the "youthful" leadership of the Jubilee Alliance and I am sure you will notice that no former head of state during the last 52 years has appointed so many people from the two communities under the leadership of "jubilee alliance.
We need a national leader after the current nightmare is over. I have one in mind. I believe very strongly that Mutua, the current governor of Masaku will shine and fly like an eagle in representing all the 42 communities that constitute the Republic of Kenya.
We need fresh blood in our state house: but not from the two current communities that have dominated the politics of Kenya for more than half a century. Take my word: the present Jubilee leaders will follow the highway of the former Nigerian leader, Brother Good luck come the next election.
So you think I have unstable
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So you think I have unstable mind for commenting about your moronic argument that makes no sense and is not even a fact. You brought about the Senators and compared to US, not me. Here is a hint for you, when the first president was in power "other" tribes complained, the second Nyayo, other "tribes" complained and so it will be even if your/my choice would be in power unfortunately. If you/I was in power the first people to plug in are the people you know and are loyal to you so you are able to govern so stop being a hypocrite. Its not the best way to do it but due to the way the country community is that's the only way of getting anything done.
"eddy," guess who was
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"eddy," guess who was appointed the Chairman of the Central Bank today by the head of the Jubilee Alliance?
Please have the courage to tell me where the man comes from? Can some one brave enough tell the current Jubilee leaders that there are many more educated and qualified people from other communities than the two communities currently in power?
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