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Brian Malila

The Kenya Kwanza Alliance yesterday accused pollsters of being used to set the stage for election rigging.

Speaking in Kirinyaga County during rallies to popularise the alliance, the leaders said the pollsters are  being manipulated to depict Deputy President William Ruto as losing popularity while ODM leader Raila Odinga was gaining ground.

ANC Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi castigated opinion poll results released yesterday which show that Ruto’s popularity had dropped in Central Kenya while that of Raila had increased.

Mudavadi who was accompanied by Ruto and Bungoma senatorMoses Wetangila said the outcome of the opinion polls was a ploy by State agents to set the stage for the rigging of the August 9 presidential election.

“That is how they start stealing elections by saying Ruto’s percentage has stagnated while that of Raila has started to rise so that they start confusing you, to accept the stealing,” he said.

According to the poll findings, Ruto is still ahead of Raila in the presidential contest but the lead has reduced while Raila’s had increased from the last poll.

Mudavadi called on the people of Mt Kenya to turn out in large numbers and vote for the Kenya Kwanza candidates.

He said the only way to avoid a run-off poll and a court battle is for the Kenya Kwanza Alliance to have a resounding victory of over 70 per cent.

“I want you people of Mt Kenya region to critically analyse the leaders in the contest and see who means well to the country’s economy.

Weigh us all individually and collectively. In Kenya Kwanza, reviving the economy and creating jobs for our youths is our priority,” he said in Sagana during the opening of Sagana Communication and Technology Training College.

Value addition

Ruto promised the people of Kirinyaga of more development projects including roads and connecting more people to the power grid.  “Moving forward, Kirinyaga will be at the centre of development plans,” said Ruto.

The DP said Raila had run out of energy to run the country.

“They know he can’t manage the country effectively and that is why they are even planning to steal elections for him,” said Ruto.

Ruto said the Kenya Kwanza administration would invest Sh100 billion in housing, value addition, agro processing and manufacturing.

“We shall also invest Sh50 billion to support small traders. By the end of this year, medical will be free. Every Kenyan will be having NHIF insurance,” he said.

Wetangula said President Uhuru Kenyatta is hell-bent on forcing a Raila presidency down the throats of Kenyans.

Wetangula noted that for years, together with Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka and Ruto, they have given Raila support without success.

“We respect and love the President. We want to ask him to honourably retire and leave Raila to fight his own war,” he said.