THE Jubilee Coalition top leaders will this week retreat to a yet-to-be disclosed venue to finalize its strategy for winning the Makueni by-elections scheduled to be held on July 26.
Last Friday, the Jubilee coalition’s Philip Kaloki who has been sponsored by Charity Ngilu’s Narc party expressed confidence that he will win the elections.
Kaloki has adopted the campaign strategy adopted by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto during the presidential race. He has constituted special grassroots committees in all the wards in the county to urge the electorate to come out and vote for him. Each of the committees has been given a target of the voters they must persuade to vote.
Kaloki is also approaching church leaders, village elders and respected opinion leaders to urge their congregations and people to vote for him.
Kaloki has denied that his candidacy had receive a hostile reception and blamed his rivals for attempting to disrupt his meetings.
“I am more concerned with the development issues affecting the people of Makueni county. Unnecessary cheap politics should be avoided.”he said.
Senate majority leader Kindiki Kithure revealed that Jubilee has put up “a formidable campaign strategy” which he said they will launch soon.
He said that they will use “any machinery available” to ensure that the electorate in Makueni vote for the Jubilee candidate.
He said that both Uhuru and Ruto will visit Makueni before the end of campaigns period to highlight the policies the government has for Makueni.
Kaloki said the visits will also be used to change the public perception that Jubilee was responsible for the woes that are facing the late Mutula Kilonzo’s daughter Kethi whose nomination by Wiper democratic party was annulled following a complaint by a Makueni voter Agnes Ndetei and the Jubilee legal advisor Jasper Mbiuki. The complaint related to Kethi’s registration as a voter.
After Kethi’s nomination as revoked, the Cord leadership is considering nominating Labour Party of Kenya’s Jane Kitundu as its candidate in case the High Court upholds the IEBC decision against Kethi.
Kitundu was the LPK’s candidate for the Makueni Women representative post but lost to Rose Museo of Wiper.
Sources confirmed that a meeting is being arranged between LPK leader Prof Julia Ojiambo, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, ODM’s Raila Odinga and Kethi before an announcement is made.
Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana has said his county will unite to ensure Jubilee’s candidate is unsuccessful.
However, Kindiki is confident that Kaloki will be successful and become the alliance’s Ukambani point man since Ngilu, as a Cabinet secretary, is not allowed to engage in politics.
– the-star.co.ke
