Cord presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga on Thursday defended his earlier sentiments on land issues in campaigns, saying he did not intend to repossess anyone’s property if he is elected President in the coming General Election.
The Prime Minister said he was only making suggestions to individuals who had huge chunks of land to donate some parcels to the internally displaced persons who he said were languishing in camps.
The emotive land issue had in the recent few weeks dominated campaigns with Mr Odinga asking Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta to donate his land to the poor.
But addressing a series of rallies in Elgeyo-Marakwet County on Thursday, Mr Odinga said: “ What is being spread that Cord will repossess peoples’ land is propaganda. That is not true at all. The propaganda is perpetuated by our competitors in Jubilee,” said the Prime Minister at Iten Town grounds.
He went on: “Whatever I said about land is not what is being said now and I want to tell you that those are past things that we should not be revisiting. I do not possess any grabbed land and do not intend to grab one.”
He assured Kenyans that his government would not “have any business repossessing land”.
He appealed the residents of North Rift, which is considered a Jubilee Coalition stronghold, to vote for him as his victory in 2007 was stolen.
He said Cord government would guarantee free education from primary to secondary school.
“When we mean free it is absolutely free with no other charges such as uniform and others. We will also pay allowances to people aged 65 years and above,” he said.
He said his government would also give incentives such as fertiliser and seeds at subsidised prices to farmers.
At the same time, drama unfolded at some point during the rally as hundreds of youths donning United Republican Party heckled Regional Minister Fred Gumo and former MP Kalembe Ndile when they spoke.
The youths booed Mr Gumo when he asked the residents to embrace Cord instead of “other small parties like Kanu.
Mr Ndile accused the Kibaki government of promoting favouritism in key appointments.
Source:nation.co.ke/news
