Statement by the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, Prime Minister, on Hon. Fred Gumo's Retirement from Politics

Fred Gumo could have easily sailed through to win any seat in Nairobi he wanted. Instead, in another expression of his far-sighted commitment to ODM and Kenya, he has chosen to devote his wisdom and energy to ensuring that our coalition wins this election and forms a government that will change people’s lives.

I want to pay great tribute to Hon. Fred Gumo for this selfless decision, and for the dedicated service he has rendered to our country during his long political career. He is leaving politics at the very peak of his career, having accomplished all he wanted to. This is the kind of legacy all Kenyans should seek to leave behind them.

Hon. Gumo was a master politician who was always in touch with the grassroots. That is how he managed to build his career in Nairobi, where he served all Kenyans irrespective of their ethnic background. That is how Fred Gumo will always be remembered.
 
Kaa Ngumu Fred!
 
I also want to pay tribute to Franklin Bett, the Minister for Roads, who has taken a break from elective politics to dedicate his energies at the national level to ensure that ODM wins the elections. A sincere and consistent man of great principle who always put the nation first, Bett left the Moi administration and joined the Narc struggle to put in place an accountable and dynamic government which would improve people’s lives. After Narc’s break-up, he knew ODM was where leaders who pushed the nation first belonged.
 
ODM and I will miss the active day to day engagement of both these ministers. But we have in the two the core of a new group of wise and independent elders who will guide the CORD government to deliver much better lives for Kenyans in every part of the Republic.

Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga
Prime Minister
16 January 2013

CORD Plans to Wrap-Up Elections in First Round - Odinga

MOYALE 15th Jan 2013 : Prime Minister Raila Odinga today said the Cord coalition will win the March 4 election overwhelmingly and in the first round.

“In 2002, I told you Mwai Kibaki would win the elections and he did. In 2005, I told you here in Moyale the Orange team would win against Banana and it happened. Even in 2007, we won, but you know what happened. In 2013, CORD will win overwhelmingly and don’t wait for the second round because it will not be there. We are going to win in the first round so wake up early and vote on March 4 because it will be over on that very day,” the PM said.

Odinga said CORD victory in the March 4 elections would mark a new era for northern Kenya, which has been stuck in neglect for half a century. "Fifty years after independence, Moyale is almost exactly what it was in 1963. Northern Kenya needs change and the chance is coming on March 4," the PM said.

Addressing a rally in Moyale town at the start of his two day tour of Marsabit County, the PM said only CORD has the people with the will to implement the constitution. He said his opponents comprise people who spread lies against the constitution and should they win, they will not implement it. The PM said those who opposed the constitution on grounds that it would put Islam above other faiths have taken prominent slots in Jubilee.

PM seated with Party Chairman Mr. Henry Kosgey and local leaders during the rally in Moyale of Marsabit County.

PM promised to build arbaitors and factories to process leather and beef for local and foreign markets. Mr Odinga said that for the first time since independence, northern Kenya is seeing investment in roads saying it was a product of his tenure as minister for roads. He said his government would invest in improving the livestock sector and make it productive and rewarding to herders.

The PM called for tolerance among all communities of the region to ensure security and rapid progress.

Mr.Odinga who also addressed a rally at Marsabit grounds was accompanied by ODM Chairman Henry Kosgey among other party MPs. 

PMPS

FORA Dismisses Purported Reinstatement of Micah Kigen as Chairman

Friends of Raila, FORA 2013, wishes to draw your attention to an article appearing in the 'Corridors of Power' Column of yesterdays edition of the Star Newspapers (14th Jan 2013) alleging that a certain Mr. Micah Kigen, erroneously described as a former boss of CBK, has been reinstated as FORA National Chairman. The Star attributed this piece of information to 'their moles' or anonymous sources.

Let it be known to all persons that Micah Kigen ceased to be the FORA National Chairman effective 7th January 2013 and was replaced by Rev. Lawrence Bomett, ODM Governor aspirant for Nakuru County and this position remains permanent, immovable and irrevocable and can not be reversed by any form of Guerilla Journalism attributtable to random, shadowy, underground and undisclosed sources.

Every such ill conceived and futile attempts by Micah Kigen to hang on, linger on or involve FORA in a game of smoke screens or musical chairs while dragging the PMs name in his schemes just serves to diminish any remaining goodwill that he may still have.

Clinging onto office through whatever means possible does not belong to the new Kenya and takes us back to the dark days of Kenyas and Africas history. KANU, Bokasa, Mobutu, Gbagbo etc come to mind. Kenya has moved away from such leaders. We are in a new era of clean and progressive politics.

May I hasten to add that Kigen can contribute towards the Raila Odinga Campaign in many other capacities and I think he should retain his goodwill for such considerations.

FORA does not wish to engage Micah Kigen and his cohorts in a media mud slinging match as we have less than 6 weeks to the election. We would rather focus our energies on getting the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga elected without noise or wasted energies.

We will however act decisively if we have to.

FORA SECRETARY GENERAL

More Legislators Join ODM

PM also castigated those opposing scientific opinion polls.

ODM Party Leader the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga has today lashed out at those opposing results of opinion polls saying they are ignorant of the facts on the ground.

Speaking at the ODM Party Headquarters in Nairobi when he officially received into the party two legislators and a Narc-Kenya official, Mr. Odinga told off those going round talking about numbers saying "numbers don't vote, but people do".

He urged Kenyans to elect leaders who have the interests of the nation at heart and not just mere power hungry leaders. "I have been a Member of Parliament in Nairobi for the past twenty years and never have I contested in Nyanza which is my rural home" he added.

He said Kenya needed leaders who were development conscience and those who will work towards improving the economy of the country to better the lives of the people of Kenya.

The Prime Minister said he was sure of CORD's landslide victory in the March 4th general election. "We
shall win with a landslide and form the next government" he said.

ODM National Chairman Mr. Henry Kosgey said ODM is a people's party adding that the CORD team will win the elections. "I welcome everyone to join the ODM and CORD, this is the winning team" said Mr. Kosgey.

He urged those who are yet to join the ODM to do so before the nominations day. "One has always to decide where to belong, but in matters politics, one must always be on the right side of history" said Mr. Kosgey.

During the occasion, the Prime Minister received into the ODM, Laisamis MP Mr. Joseph Lekuton who ditched the URP for ODM. Also officially joining ODM was the Kitutu Chache MP and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Richard Onyonka who ditched the PDP party.

Also joining the party was Mr. Francis Kagwima, the former MP for Tharaka who will vie for the Tharaka Nithi County Senator's seat.

Mr. Kepha Sagana who is the Narc-Kenya Secretary General was also received in the party by the Prime Minister.

CORD Principals Due for Inaugural Western and North Rift Tours

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has lined up a number of activities that run from today, Thursday, January 10, 2013 through Sunday, January 13, 2013, in Central, Western and North Rift provinces, aimed at boosting Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential bid. 

On Friday, January 11, 2013, Rt. Hon. Odinga will lead co-CORD principals, Vice President Hon Kalonzo Musyoka and Hon Moses Wetangula, on a visit to Kakamega, to be climaxed by a major rally at the Muliro Gardens.

The Principals will then proceed to Kitale on Saturday, January 12, 2013, for a major rally at the Kenyatta Stadium, besides a number of other scheduled activities.

The three CORD leaders will wind-up their tour of the two regions with a visit to Bungoma on Sunday, January 13, 2012, where apart from other scheduled activities in the area, will address a major rally at the Posta Grounds.

Their visit will be preceded by a CORD Caravan set to traverse the areas to popularize the PM’s presidential bid and the alliance. 

Official Release by the Raila for President Secretariat

Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat Restructured

The Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat has been restructured to incorporate interests of partners in the CORD Coalition, enhance synergy and deliver victory for Kenya.
 
Mr. Andrew Mwavwa, who has been Head of Strategy in the Kalonzo Musyoka for President Secretariat, now becomes the Deputy Head of the Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat while Mr. Ken Wanyama, who has been a member of the Moses Wetangula Presidential Campaign Secretariat becomes the Director in Charge of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships in the Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat
 
Mr Eliud Owalo retains the position of Chief Campaign Manager and Head of the restructured Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat. Others are Mr. Ngunjiri Wambugu (Director, Political Affairs), Dr. Lang’at Kipkurui Lang’at (Director, Field Operations), Mr. Oduor Ong’wen (Director of Strategy, Policy and Research), Ms Rosemary Kariuki (Political Mobilisation), Mr. Wafula Buke (Field Manager), Dr Josephine Wandago (Women Affairs) and Mr. David Osiany (Youth Affairs).
 
These changes, which have been sanctioned by the three CORD principals and the CORD Executive Board, take effect immediately.
 
DATED AT NAIROBI THIS MONDAY THE 7TH DAY OF JANUARY 2013
ELIUD OWALO
CHIEF CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND HEAD OF THE RAILA ODINGA PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SECRETARIAT

CORD Statement on Nominations for the 2013 General Elections

Franklin Bett (left) Cord co-chairmen Dalmas Otieno (centre) and David Musila (right) confer during a news conference January 5, 2013 at Serena Hotel, Nairobi. Cord parties will hold joint nominations.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), having exhaustively consulted widely among its member parties and its various coalition management organs, wishes to inform our supporters and those who have expressed interest in offering themselves for nomination for the positions of Governor, Senator, Woman Member of the National Assembly, Ordinary Member  of the National Assembly and Member of the County Assembly in their respective member parties as follows:
 

1. That nominations to all the named positions will be held on Thursday, 17th January 2013.
2. That the nominations shall be conducted jointly by FORD Kenya, ODM, Wiper Democratic Movement -­‐ Kenya and all other partner parties that have signed the Coalition Agreement. 
3. That the nominations shall be conducted by universal suffrage through secret ballot.
4. That for avoidance of doubt, the names of all candidates for each position shall appear in one common ballot paper clearly indicating the name and symbol of sponsoring partner party. 
5. That polling stations for the purposes of these nominations, which shall open at 8.00 hrs and close at 17.00 hrs, shall be published by the CORD Elections Board not later than seven (7) days before the nominations. 
6. That to qualify to participate in nominations, electors names must appear in the IEBC Voters’ Register and proof of identification shall be either a National Identity Card or Kenyan Passport. No other identification document will be accepted. 
7. That at the close of voting, votes shall be counted and results announced at the polling stations which shall later be tallied at Constituency and County Tallying Centres. 
8. That the County and Constituency Returning Officers, Presiding Officers and clerks for the exercise shall be identified,appointed and supervised by the CORD Elections Board and NOT by aspirants or any other entity. 
9. That each successful candidate in the nominations shall be issued with a certificate of nomination by his or her sponsoring partner party. 
10. That the CORD Election Board has been mandated to expressly disqualify any candidate who engages in, sponsors or in any way abets violence prior to, during or after the nomination exercise.
11. That the following have been appointed members of the CORD Elections board:

• Hon. Franklin Bett Chair
• Sammy M. Mbova, CBS Vice Chair
• Ezekiel Wafula Secretary Other members include:
• Everett Wasike
• Hon. Judy Pareno
• Roy M. Mutisya
• Mary Muhuhu

The CORD Elections Board shall issue more details regrading this exercise in due course.

Dated in Nairobi this 5th January 2013
 
Signed: Hon. David Musila 
Hon. Dalmas Otieno