BY WINSTONE MUSISI
Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga today made a triumphant entry into Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County, the home turf of Deputy President William Ruto.
The Opposition leader who was flanked by more than 15 ODM and Jubilee elected leaders among them Elgeyo Marakwet governor Alex Tolgos his Kakamega counterpart Wycliff Oparanya, Kieni MP Kanini Kega and his Shinyalu counterpart Justus Kizito brought all business to a standstill as he addressed hundreds of residents who had lined up along the busy Eldoret-Webuye highway.
Earlier on, there was drama after the party supporters among them more than 300 boda boda riders blocked his convoy as they demanded the ODM leader to address them.
Another drama unfolded at Silver line joint along the Eldoret-Eldoret International Airport road after supporters of UDM party associated with DP William Ruto heckled Raila’s convoy forcing him to speed off.
This was after he asked the crowd whether they want wheelbarrow or development of which they answered in chorus “wheelbarrow” as a section of UDM supporters told him to leave their slogan alone.
In his address to the crowd at Barngetuny junction, Raila assured the local farming community that he would ensure the price of farm input is addressed if elected the President in 2022.
He said that his priority will be to fight the high level of corruption in the public sector which he claimed has made life difficult for the hundreds of ordinary citizens in the country.
Raila promised development
Raila pledged that he will revive the cotton and pyrethrum sectors which he claimed had been run down by corruption and mismanagement by those entrusted to run them.
The ODM leader also decried the frequent cases of insecurity that has affected social and economic development in North Rift region and vowed to end the vice if given mandate by Kenyans to lead them.
“I will put in place stringent security measures to check rising incidents of insecurity that have led to killing of innocent people and displacement of families from their homes in some parts of Rift Valley region,” said Raila.
Tolgos told the Opposition leader that he was welcomed to campaign in the vote-rich North Rift region assuring him that he has their goodwill and support to ensure he wins the 2022 presidential seat.