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Raila Odinga allies camp in Eastleigh wooing voters to back his presidential bid

Political leaders supporting Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga for the presidency have in the recent past camped in Eastleigh in a political charm offensive aimed at bagging the Kenyan- Somali nationals votes.

Political leaders supporting Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga for the presidency have in the recent past camped in Eastleigh in a political charm offensive aimed at bagging the Kenyan- Somali nationals votes.

Early this week, Kamukunji, Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan Abdi, led other Northern Frontier counties leaders to interact with the locals. They urged them to support Odinga, who President Uhuru Kenyatta has already endorsed.

In addition to the support for Odinga, the leaders also criticized comments made by Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi, who said it was easier to get a gun at Sh1,000 in Eastleigh.

 

Other leaders who joined Hassan include; Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho and Nairobi woman representative Esther Passaris.

“The only leader who will take this country to where it should be by now is none other than Odinga, and we urge you to support him,” Joho, who also doubles as the party deputy leader, said.

According to Joho, there was an importance in voting for a sober leader who would steer our country into shared prosperity.

“The country should be left in the trusted hands of none other than Raila Odinga. I extended my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the people of Eastleigh for the super-warm reception,” he said.

Joho also told off Wamatangi, saying that it was essential to treat everyone in the country equally.

“The people of Eastleigh are Kenyans just like other Kenyans, and they have a right to business just like other Kenyans. If you do not understand the business, then sit out,” Joho, who is serving his last term as Governor said.

Hassan, who is the area MP,  said that the remarks which Wamatangi made were baseless and asked him to apologize.

He said that the Somali-Kenyan nationals were peace-loving and making significant contributions to the country’s economy.

“We have come out to show that we are a peace-loving business community who are playing a big part in the country’s economy and politics,” he said, adding that it was essential if the Kiambu Senator would withdraw his sentiments.

“He should go to all the media houses. He made false accusations against the community in Eastleigh,” he added.

Their tour in the town, located within Kenya’s capital city Nairobi came barely a month after Odinga visited the business hub.

In his tour, Odinga asked locals to register as voters and ensure that they vote for him in the 2022 General elections that will take place in August.

It is worth noting that top leaders linked to the Somali community in Kenya are divided on whether to back Odinga or United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Presidential candidate William Ruto.

Ruto’s point man in the North Eastern and who is believed to be the leader who will help woo the Somali- Kenyan nationals back him is Aden Duale, who is the Garissa Township Member of Parliament 

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