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Kenya: President Now Changes His Campaign Style
Real estate news By Gitau Warigi
15 October 2007
In the heightened political campaigns, President Kibaki has campaigned intensively in the Rift Valley province, thrice in as many weeks, a twin pointer to the new style of vote-hunting that he has adopted, and the importance his campaign strategy places on that region's votes. The stakes are high and escalating and nothing demonstrates this more than this single-minded focus on the province with 3 million registered voters, and which is turning out to be the battleground that could decide this election. With Western Province and the lion's share of Nyanza looking virtually lost to ODM, it is increasingly becoming apparent that President Kibaki's most crucial stand is going to be in the Rift Valley.
Thursday's defection of Cabinet minister Mr John Koech, who was one of the President's most ardent supporters in the Rift Valley, has only added to the impression that ODM is the party to beat in that region. Last week, the President went vote-hunting in the province for two straight days, with special attention on Kajiado District's Loitokitok, Isinya, Ongata Rongai and Ngong. The previous fortnight the focus was North Rift, especially Eldoret which he visited twice, first to preside over a military graduation ceremony and second for a political rally. In between, the President was busy playing host to several delegations from the province, one of which included MPs and officials still loyal to Kanu from the larger Kericho, and another - which was not publicised - comprising senior clergymen from the North Rift.
Actually, it was this group of clergymen who played a quiet, behind-the-scenes role leading to the President's second foray to Eldoret, where he also commissioned the re-opening of the Rift Valley Textiles (Rivatex) factory. A week before that visit, the President had hosted the clergymen at State House, Nairobi, following a private request placed when he attended the military graduation ceremony at Eldoret's Moi Barracks. The clerics included Eldoret Catholic Bishop Cornelius Korir, Kitale Anglican Bishop Stephen Kewasis, Eldoret Anglican Bishop Thomas Kogo as well as the African Inland Church presiding Bishop Silas Yego, who is known to be very close to retired President Moi. The clerics have for a long time been involved in a home-grown initiative called simply a "Emo", which in their language means community, nationhood or kinship. The association, which has existed for some time, is non-political and is the brainchild of Rift Valley professionals, who sought to involve the clerics as mentors at inception. The outfit is about socio-economic development of the Rift Valley communities.
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