Cord leader Raila lands in Meru on vote hunt

Cord leader and ODM party chairman Raila Odinga arrives in Meru on April 30, 2016 for a series of meetings and rallies to woo voters in the region perceived to be a Jubilee stronghold. PHOTO | LUCAS BARASA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Odinga was received by Meru ODM chairman Gatobu Marete, organising secretary Fridah Gakii and other party officials.

  • His visit was delayed for hours due to bad weather.

  • Among those accompanying Mr Odinga were Senator James Orengo, MPs Junet Mohamed, Millie Odhiambo and Simba Arati.

Cord Leader Raila Odinga has arrived in Meru for a series of meetings and rallies as he seeks to woo voters in the region perceived as a Jubilee stronghold.

Mr Odinga and his entourage landed in three helicopters at Muthara at around 2pm.

His visit was delayed for hours due to bad weather.

Among those accompanying Mr Odinga were Senator James Orengo, MPs Junet Mohamed, Millie Odhiambo and Simba Arati.

In the last General Elections, Mr Odinga’s Orange Democratic Party (ODM) won two parliamentary seats in Meru region out of its nine constituencies.

Mr Odinga was received by Meru ODM chairman Gatobu Marete, organising secretary Fridah Gakii and other party officials.

MIRAA FARMERS

Mr Marete said ODM had made inroads in the area following neglect of miraa (khat) growers by Jubilee administration.

He said miraa growers wanted markets for their produce and not handouts.

Last week on Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that the government would allocate Sh1 billion to miraa farmers to cushion them from shocks of an international ban of the commodity.

Mr Kenyatta's decision followed pressure from Meru leaders who demanded action after the cash crop was banned in the UK and Netherlands two years ago.