A section of the youth in Kiambu and Murang’a counties have committed to ferrying the sick and the elderly to polling stations as they seek to ensure Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga amasses more votes.
Under the Mama na Baba Kiambu and Murang’a Youth Forum, the group said they have mobilised energetic youth in the region who will assist vulnerable voters especially in remote places get to the polling stations on Tuesday.
“Our presidential candidate has gained immense support in Kiambu and Murang’a and the mountain region at large. We are his foot soldiers here and we will ensure that all of his votes are cast. We will help the sick and the elderly by taking them to the polling centers and back to their homes,”chairman of the group, Joseph Kamau alias Monjos, said.
He said they are leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that Raila and his deputy Martha Karua garner more votes in the vote-rich region.
Raila is contesting for the presidency for the fifth time and faces stiff competition from Deputy President and the United Democratic Alliance candidate William Ruto at the August 9 polls.
Kiambu and Murang’a is largely seen as a Ruto stronghold but the entry of Karua into the presidential challenge in March as Raila’s deputy changed the matrix.
Recent opinion polls indicated that Ruto still had a head start but the Azimio crew had closed the gap.
The youth from the region spoke jointly at a peace caravan with a section of Mt Kenya artists Peter Kigia, Ben Githae, Gachathi wa Thuo, Regina Muthoga and Zachary Wandaro in Murang’a and Kiambu counties on Saturday.
They said they have been following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s guidance in shaping the region’s political path.
Uhuru endorsed Raila as his preferred successor and has been campaigning for him in the Mt Kenya region.
“President Uhuru is our leader and political kingpin and that is why we heeded to his call to support Raila Odinga. We are certain that under Raila’s presidency, all projects including roads that have been initiated by Uhuru in this region will be completed,” Kamau said.
“We trust that Raila will further streamline the coffee, tea, avocado and milk sectors that are being reformed by the President,” he added.
The chairman called on Mt Kenya residents to turn up in large numbers and participate in their lawful right of electing their leaders on Tuesday.
He said that they have been preaching peace during the campaign period in the region urging residents and candidates vying for various seats to uphold peace during and after the general elections.
“We are urging residents and all candidates to maintain peace because the elections will come and go. We must continue living in harmony even if those who we support win or fail to clinch the seats they are looking for. Let’s do this for the sake of our families, friends and businesses,” Kamau told residents at Kagundu-ini in Kandara constituency.
The artists led by Regina Muthoga said that for the last four months, artists in the region have been crisscrossing the region campaigning for Raila and Karua as well as preaching peace in the region.
She said that they are optimistic the Azimio presidential candidate will take the baton from Uhuru.
“We have never witnessed a peaceful campaign period like this one and we hope our people will maintain that peace even during and after the elections. We will wake up go and vote and retreat to our businesses and farms as usual,” she said.
“All we want is peace and tranquility.” BY THE STAR