ODM leader Raila Odinga will declare his decision on whether he will run for presidency at the end of this month.
Speaking in Nyando, Kisumu County and Luanda in Vihiga yesterday, Mr Odinga made it clear that his decision to contest will be determined by the outcome of the ongoing voter registration that ends this month, even as he decried the low registration turnout in his support bases.
While expressing his readiness to take on Deputy President William Ruto, Mr Odinga said that low registration turnout could make him opt out of the race.
“You must all get your shield and spear for me to be able to have a strong command against our opponents,” said the ODM leader, who called on his supporters to prepare for the August 9 General Election by acquiring national ID cards and registering as voters in large numbers.
“For me to be able to face my opponents for the top seat, I need to have a strong army behind me,” he said in Nyando.
He repeated the same remarks in Luanda later in the day, where he said that he intends to make his presidential declaration at the end of the month after seeing the voter registration strength in his support bases.
“I have said I will make my decision to run for the presidency at the end of the month. But my supporters should arm themselves with voters’ cards. I will declare after I have seen how people have registered,” said Mr Odinga in Luanda where he was accompanied by a host of leaders.
The ODM leader, who is currently popularising his unity drive and working with President Uhuru Kenyatta through the handshake, has been hesitant to declare his bid.
During his visit to the two counties, he called on the youth who are 18 to take advantage of the one-month voter registration.
“I am not happy because young people in this region are very reluctant to register as voters while those from other regions are beating us,” he said during the ground breaking ceremony of the proposed Raila Odinga Secondary School in Nyando financed by China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Company Ltd.
In Western, an additional 1.2 million new voters are expected to register by the close of the exercise.
Mr Odinga was in Vihiga, the home of ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, to sensitise the public to enlist as voters.
He dismissed those who had written him off saying he still has the sway and capacity to take over leadership after the exit of President Kenyatta, who is serving his second and final term in office.
Increased voter registration
ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna said for the opposition leader to be successful in his political ambition, leaders supporting him should not to be diverted by local politics but focus on Mr Odinga’s presidential campaign.
Mr Sifuna said there are many other leaders from the community who are interested in the top seat but called on Western to listen to Mr Odinga.
Other leaders present at the event were MPs Godfrey Osotsi (Nominated), Jared Okello (Nyando), Chris Omulele (Luanda), Caleb Amisi (Saboti) and Samuel Atandi (Alego Usonga).
At one of the registration centres at Khwiliba Primary School in Luanda, Mr Odinga said he had seen only two BVR kits.
He called on IEBC to increase the number of the kits to boost the efficiency of voter registration. The former Prime Minister enumerated the agenda he has for the country.
Part of the agenda he said includes improving the education levels as well as the status of teachers.
The plan will also see youths who graduate from technical institutes given money to create self-employment opportunities.
Further, Mr Odinga said another agenda includes rural industrialisation by setting up industries at the grassroots.
“This will help address the rate of unemployment and boost economic development at the grassroots,” he said.
He warned against voting in leaders with corruption records, saying the money they are giving out to groups and churches are proceeds of graft meant to cause voters to vote in a certain way.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and his Vihiga counterpart, Dr Wilber Ottichilo also campaigned for increased voter registration.
