Uhuru takes Jubilee campaigns to Kajiado County

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing a rally in Kangundo, Machakos County on July 4, 2017. He is Wednesday visiting Kajiado County as he drums up support for his re-election and popularising his Jubilee Party. PHOTO | CHARLES KIMANI | DPPS

What you need to know:

  • Mr Kenyatta will also try to undo Nasa candidate Raila Odinga’s growing influence in the county.
  • Kajiado has been the focus of national discourse on land issues following controversial statements Mr Odinga made on land matters.
  • Mr Kenyatta has taken every opportunity available to castigate the Nasa leader.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is visiting Kajiado County as he drums up support for his re-election while at the same time popularising his Jubilee Party.

The President will be keen to consolidate the support he got in the county in 2013 as well as try to undo Nasa candidate Raila Odinga’s growing influence in the county.

His visit comes at a time when the county has been the focus of national discourse on land issues following controversial statements Mr Odinga made in Iloodokilani urging non-Maasais to keep off land in Kajiado.

LAND ISSUES

Mr Odinga’s statement created tension in the county especially after leaflets appeared asking non-Maasais to move out of Kajiado before election day.

Mr Kenyatta has taken every opportunity available to castigate the Nasa leader, calling him out for allegedly diving Kenyans along tribal lines.

He has also been reminding Kenyans that Jubilee stands for unity among all Kenyans irrespective of tribal affiliation.

He is expected to reinforce his statement during the Kajiado visit.

PEACE MEETINGS

Though Mr Odinga visited the county shortly after he made the controversial utterances to deny inciting communities living in Kajiado as well as try to clarify his message, Jubilee Party officials on the ground have been organising peace meetings, assuring residents of their security while at the same time asking Mr Odinga to keep off land issues in the county.

The sensitive land issue has also forced Governor David Nkedianye (ODM) to traverse the county assuring non-Maasais that they will not be evicted.

Jubilee Party officials on the other hand have been keen to use the debate to their advantage, seeking to associate Dr Nkedianye to Mr Odinga’s sentiments and to prove to the sizeable non-Maasai population that Jubilee means well for them.

VOTERS

Non-Maasais have settled in the urban areas of the county including Ngong and Rongai in Kajiado North and Kitengela in Kajiado East.

Kajiado North has more than 120,000 registered voters, which is almost double the total number of registered voters in Kajiado West (64,000) and Kajiado Central (56,000).

Kajiado East has around 100,000 registered voters while Kajiado South has around 50,000.

In the 2013 elections, Mr Kenyatta’s party, TNA, made impressive showing in the county, where it bagged all but one National Assembly seat and 23 out of 25 county assembly seats.

OLE KOROS

The governorship seat was also poised to go their way but their nominee, Taraiya ole Kores, was knocked off the contest, a few weeks to the polls, after the courts found that his academic credentials were suspect.

Mr Ole Kores has since decamped to Nasa after he accused Jubilee Party of rigging him out in favour of Mr Joseph ole Lenku.

Though Jubilee had the county pretty wrapped up, the tide appeared to be shifting following two by-elections, one to replace Gen Joseph Nkaissery, then Kajiado Central MP and the only ODM MP in the county, and another one to replace an MCA in Mosiro who died.

ODM retained the two seats and has used the results of two by-elections to claim that Kajiado is now its zone.

ODM

The effect of having an ODM governor and the development he has brought about, have also contributed to the party’s popularity in Kajiado.

The president is keen to have Jubilee capture the gubernatorial seat through Mr Ole Lenku and will be drumming up support for Mr Nkaissery’s predecessor at the Interior Ministry.

Mr Kenyatta will also be seeking to neutralise Nasa’s influence in the county especially after its principals led by Mr Odinga, made two quick fire visits, the last one being on June 20.

GOODIES

He will also be keen to tame the perceived influence of his former ally, Mr Ole Kores, after he defected to Nasa and pledged to throw his weight behind Dr Nkedianye’s re-election bid.

The President will most definitely come calling with a bag of goodies for Kajiado people, including the creation of new administrative positions in this vast county.

In 2013, President Kenyatta got 138,851 votes against Mr Odinga’s 117,856 votes.

He will also seek to increase that tally in the August 8 elections.