The man who sold his two-acre piece of land to campaign for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election has made good his pledge and held his first rally, which was attended by nearly 200 people.
Michael Odongo, The Standard reports, a former convict who attributed his freedom to the intervention of the President, on Thursday began his self-financed rallies in Kisumu for Uhuru’s re-election, defying the anti-establishment wave in his native Luo land, where opposition leader Raila Odinga has a fanatical following.
The rally, which started with less than 100 youths, later attracted more people who were eager to hear what he had to say.
Odongo says his actions are not malicious and he wants to ensure Uhuru gets at least 3,000 votes in the region. He said Uhuru saved him from life imprisonment in 2001 when serving time at Nakuru Main Prison for robbery with violence.
Omondi, a not-so-gifted speaker, chose his words carefully, dwelling on the latest announcement by President Kenyatta that East African Breweries Limited (EABL) would put up a Ksh15 billion plant in Kisumu to employ more than 100,000 people.
“The new Constitution has opened up the country’s democratic space and I want to tell you that time has come when we must only choose leaders who mean well for us,” he said. “The Jubilee government has done a commendable job in developing the country and their promises now contain good things for this region.”
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When he realised that the crowd was not as receptive as he had hoped, he took time to inform them of the news that was breaking at the moment – the planned brewery.
“As I talk to you right now, the President moments ago just announced that the EABL brewery next to Kicomi (Kisumu Cotton Mills) is going to be revived and will employ 110,000 people. Is this not the development we want?”
He said he would ensure that the President visits Kisumu to tell the people what plans he had for them. Omondi said he would run solo rallies, claiming that the Jubilee camp in the region was not up to the task.
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Meanwhile, Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi has given Ksh100,000 to a man who promised to sell his land to campaign for President Uhuru Kenyatta. Mr Zablon Mukiira, a Mau Mau freedom fighter from Nkabune village, said he wants Uhuru re-elected as he has carried out tangible development projects.
“[Because of] Uhuru, many elderly people receive stipends and maternity is free. They have built the SGR and electricity has been installed,” he said on Thursday.
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