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Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga yesterday claimed yesterday that he would win the election with more than 65 per cent of the votes.

Raila, who campaigned in Kirinyaga County, said claims by his opponents that he would not win the support of the Mt Kenya region had been proved wrong.

Speaking in Kerugoya, the home turf of his running-mate Martha Karua, the former Prime Minister said he had finally succeeded in “climbing the mountain.”

Recent opinion polls have shown Raila’s main rival, Deputy President William Ruto, enjoys massive support in the region with Raila gradually gaining ground.

“They said I would never succeed in climbing the mountain but I want to tell them I have,” said Raila who picked Karua in May to deputise him in his quest to become the country’s fifth president.

“I have brought Mama Karua home today…we are going to win this election. We are already at 65 per cent but we want to go beyond that,” said the ODM leader.

Role of Karua

He said their coalition, which brings together more than 20 parties including the ruling Jubilee, had won the support of Kenyans nationally.

“Azimio is everywhere: Coast, Western, Nyanza, Nairobi, Eastern, Rift Valley and now Mt Kenya. Where will Kenya Kwisha (Kwanza) get the votes?,” posed Raila, who is running for president for the fifth time.

Karua, who is also Narc-Kenya leader, has been leading the coalition’s campaigns in the region since she was picked Raila’s running mate.

From Tuesday, Raila and Karua have traversed the region, starting in Nyeri on Tuesday and heading to Kiambu on Wednesday.

Raila also remembered democracy advocates Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia, who, alongside Raila and others, were arrested on July 7, 1990 for planning protests to force then-President Daniel arap Moi to reintroduce multiparty politics. The day has since been commemorated as Saba Saba Day.

Despite the arrests, the protests would a year later lead to the repeal of Section 2 (A) of the Independence Constitution that banned the formation of other parties to rival Kanu.

That clamour for a return to multiparty politics – after the June 1982 amendment of the Constitution by Parliament to ban the system – came to be known as the country’s second liberation.

The Azimio leader said Karua played an important role in the liberation, saying it was the main reason why he picked her as his prospective deputy president.

“We were together with Karua during the Second Liberation. She is a hero. She does not retreat, that is why I chose her as my running mate. We will lead the third revolution,” said Raila.

Best option

He said that if elected, they will lead the third liberation from disease, illiteracy, poverty and corruption.

“On corruption, we are in the Super League but on development, we lag behind. We are in the third division. We want to reverse that so that we lead in development,” said Raila, who promised to bring down the prices of basic food such as maize flour and sugar within 100 days if Azimio ascends to power.

Karua urged Mt Kenya residents to support them saying Raila was the best to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta. “We don’t want angry people to lead, we want politically mature leaders and Raila is the one who fits the role,” said Karua.

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu said the duo was the best option for the country. “With Raila and Karua, Kenya is in safe hands. Raila sought and found Karua who is the only person who can make Kenya a better country,” said Ngilu.