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Kenya: PM to Officially Visit Kisumu Next Month
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
26 April 2008
Posted to the web 25 April 2008
Peter Atsiaya
Nairobi
Prime Minister Raila Odinga conducted a meet-the-people tour of Kisumu town.
In the tour he said he would bring President Kibaki to the area as part of the reconciliation process.
This was Raila's first public meeting in his home turf since he was appointed Prime Minister.
Raila said that he planned to bring the President and all leaders in the grand coalition government to the region for reconciliation.
There was drama as the crowd, which welcomed the move, said that Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka should not be part of the team.
"I'm planning to bring Kibaki and other leaders in the Government to visit this area. Will you welcome him?" Raila posed.
But the crowd responded: "Lakini asikuje na Kalonzo (He (Kibaki) should not come with Kalonzo)".
Shouts of Hatutaki Kalonzo! Hatutaki Kalonzo! (We do not want Kalonzo, we do not want Kalonzo) rent the air before Raila cooled down the crowd and continued with his address.
Kalonzo issue
The PM, however, avoided commenting on the Kalonzo issue and emphasised the need for local people to forget the past and live in harmony with others. He told the crowds that this was not an official visit, adding that his homecoming would be on May 9.
This was after the crowd questioned why he came secretly to the city catching them unaware.
"Agwambo, your visit to Kisumu should be announced over the radio," a youth shouted.
"I will make an official visit on May 9. I was passing by after touring Eldoret with the President," he explained.
He pointed out that he would make a three-day visit to the US next week before coming back for the homecoming.
Raila caused a stir at the busy Oginga Odinga Road as enthusiastic residents who learnt of his visit flooded the street and demanded that he address them.
The PM's security detail had a hectic time controlling hundreds of Raila's supporters, who blocked his convoy as it headed to the Kisumu airport.
The PM addressed two meetings along Oginga Odinga Road and two others along Kisumu-Busia road on his way to the airport.
The Lang'ata MP said he was committed to ensuring the grand coalition government works for Kenya.
"We want to set an example to other African countries that have been hit by conflicts that they can sit on the same table and address citizen's issues irrespective of their political affiliation," he said.
Kibaki visit
Saying that there was need to forgive each other, Raila added that Kibaki's visit would help reconcile residents.
He pointed out that this was part of a series of meetings he would hold jointly with the Head of State to heal the nation. On Thursday, Raila made a maiden visit to Kisumu surprising many residents who were unaware of his presence.
The helicopter carrying him landed at about 5.45pm.
Kisumu mayor, Mr Sam Okello, received him before holding a brief meeting with local leaders at the private lounge at the airport.
There was drama as security personnel blocked a group of civic leaders, who made futile effort to meet the PM.
Public Health minister, Ms Beth Mugo, Finance Assistant minister, Dr Oburu Odinga, and Kisumu Town East MP, Mr Shakeel Shabir, joined him at the lounge.
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The Lang'ata MP then boarded Okello's official car and drove off from the airport as hundreds of residents, who thronged the facility cheered him.
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| Copyright © 2008 The East African Standard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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