Bob Odalo
11 October 2008
Nairobi — Prime minister Raila Odinga on Saturday led six Cabinet ministers and a number of MPs in calling for an end to the ongoing 2012 presidential campaigns.
Speaking in Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka's Ukambani backyard, Mr Odinga said the campaigns were boring Kenyans.
"This talk about who should be president in 2012 is boring, uncalled- for and should stop," he said.
The PM said the country was still divided along ethnic lines and, just 10 months after the disputed 2007 presidential elections, the last thing Kenyans wanted to hear is who wants to be president four years from now.
Mr Odinga was speaking at Kathiani High School in Machakos during a thanks-giving party for area MP Wavinya Ndeti who is also an assistant minister for Youth and Sports.
Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs Minister Martha Karua is among those who have declared an interest in the presidency in 2012. She has already launched a website and is criss-crossing the country seeking support.
A number of politicians have also rallied behind Mr Musyoka and Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta to succeed President Kibaki.
Mr Odinga, who arrived from a visit to France and Nigeria on Friday evening, talked of the government's ambitious five-year plan for the Ukambani region.
He said millions of shillings have been set aside to sink dams, dig boreholes and rehabilitate dilapidated roads in the region.
But as Mr Odinga talked about shunning the 2012 presidential election campaigns, former Attorney- General Charles Njonjo and Kiambaa MP Stanley Githunguri told the gathering that the Langata MP was the man to watch come the next poll.
Local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi told councillors countrywide that the government has not abandoned plans of paying them salaries from the Consolidated Fund.
"These are issues we want to be included in the new constitution we are fighting for. We have every reason to believe that it will be done," he said.
Lands Minister James Orengo said Kenyans should talk less about politics and instead find ways of tackling inflation brought about by rising food costs and escalating poverty.
Co-operative Development Minister Joseph Nyagah said Kathiani constituents proved during the last elections that they were true nationalists by voting in an MP and councillors from at least 10 different political parties.
Water Development Minister Charity Ngilu urged women not to shy away from seeking elective posts saying the outcome of the last General Election and subsequent by-elections showed that Kenyans were no longer discriminating against women.
Wavinya said tribalism was tearing the country apart and that leaders who were still propagating the vice should be ignored.
"I am serving the coalition government while representing the interests of all young people," she said.
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