allAfrica.com: Kenya: Thousands Turn Up to Welcome PM in Kisumu (Page 1 of 2)

Prime Minister Raila Odinga landed in Kisumu with a spring and the swarming crowds garlanded its favourite son with a memorable, pompous welcome.

It was an outflow of adoration for the man they have given so many names all of which pay homage to his political prowess. But when he asked them to accept the Grand Coalition, arguing the Orange Democratic Movement had not been handed a raw deal in the power sharing, they gave him a different face. A long one at that, for those who spoke earlier had to take back the President's name.

A huge crowd turned out to welcome Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kisumu on Saturday. But this year, the homecoming parties have not been as ecstatic as those of 2003. Picture by James Keyi

It was Raila's big day; to them he fought the good fight and is at their hearts. It presented to the nation Raila's next test, that of solidifying the coalition without losing out on the voting bloc that adulates him so much.

But still Raila, who switched to Dholuo to reach more ears and probably to be more convincing, asked them to forget the past, and grapple with the present and the future.

He said he was out to unite Kenya and asked for support. But the crowd were uncomfortable with his idea of the coalition. "You helped me to spear and kill the antelope to death but someone claimed he is the one who did it we therefore had to share this animal," Raila told the crowd as it noisily disapproved of certain parts of his speech, particularly the news he would soon be bringing the coalition leaders to Nyanza.

Red carpet reception

His entourage, in which the Party of National Unity wing of the Cabinet was conspicuously missing, said the march to State House was on.

"I shall not get tired, do not get tired, we are only on a short break before the tough battle resumes I hope you will remain solidly behind us," Water minister Mrs Charity Ngilu said.

Raila told them the coalition was a transitory body, it is temporary, and he is now in a position to push through its campaign promises.

The lakeside city clouded by teargas and scarred by tear-gas fumes only a weeks ago, throbbed with joy as Raila, who too suffered police brutality during post-election violence and the Government's fight-back, landed on a Kenya Air Force jet. The aura around him was stately; he walked on a red carpet and ecstatically watched on the electrified crowd, as State security officials ringed him.

It was a different Raila, the burly 'bouncers' with dark glasses that used to clear the way for him, deep inside the crowds, were not in insight. Instead, because of his recent eye operation, it was Raila who bore detective Kojak's classes.

Raila said he knew that supporters of ODM were bitter with the outcome of the last General Election, but appealed for patience and calm, saying "Mvumilivu hula mbivu." (Patience pays).

Tension heightened when a section of the crowd shouted down speakers who mentioned names of senior Government officials from PNU. This forced Raila not to mention names of some politicians whom he said had sent greetings to the people of Nyanza.

"I bring you greetings from Mr Musalia Mudavadi, Mr Najib Balala and other colleagues in the Government from Nairobi, who could not make it to this occasion," Raila said.

Agriculture Minister William Ruto and his Public Works colleague Chris Obure had earlier found themselves in trouble when they tried to justify the Coalition Government.

Ruto was forced to eat his words after he mentioned the name of President Kibaki in his speech.

"President Kibaki and Raila are principals in the Coalition Government," Ruto said, before the crowd interjected by shouts of usitaje Kibaki (do not mention Kibaki).

Ruto then changed tact amid cheers, and said," Raila na yule mwingine (Raila and the other person) are leaders of the Coalition Government."

Obure received a similar treatment when he asked the crowd, "How many wanted the leaders to stick to the Coalition Government? It responded with a resounding No!

Cries of hatuwataki (we do not want them) rent the air after Raila announced that he planned to bring members of the Coalition Government to the region as part of reconciliation.

ODM was not shortchanged

Over 45 MPs attended the ceremony at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu. It was a rare occasion as Raila turned into his ecstatic supporters to appreciate the inevitability of certain sections of his speech.

web allafrica.com	Enter your search terms	Submit search form
OR subscribers use AllAfrica's premium search engine


Use our pull-down menus to find more stories