ODM to accept fair 2022 General Election outcome

Rawlings Otieno and Noah Chepleon

Opposition Chief Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will accept the outcome of the election on condition it will be free, fair, transparent and credible.

Party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna while committing the party to fairness, said they will advocate for peace, harmony and tranquility charging the elections must also be peaceful.

“ODM is committed to a peaceful election in August 2022. We will support any roadmap to a peaceful election.

We will accept elections results as long as they are free, fair, transparent and credible,” he said.

He also told Kenyans to be wary of the politicians with questionable character and ensure they are all thrown out at the ballot, adding that political parties cannot bar any candidate as long as the court of law has not rendered any verdict on the candidate.

Healthy competition

Addressing participants at the 40th International Day of Peace celebrations in Nairobi South C, where he represented Raila, Sifuna cautioned that politics is but a healthy competition and not enmity, adding no economic model can be applied in the absence of peace.

“Nobody is an enemy, we are only competitors. There can be no economic model that can be applied in the absence of peace.

We as a party are for the unity and peace for this country for any economy to work,” said Sifuna.

Party leader Raila who was lined to be chief guest was in Molo attending the burial of David Muchai the founder of Mololine Services.

In his speech read by Sifuna, Raila said the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed how unequal Kenya and the whole world remains, explaining that while most of Africa is struggling to get the basic first shot for citizens, the developed world is debating about booster shots.

“This divide needs to be bridged if we are to have sustainable peace and recovery.

As we heal from the Covid-19 pandemic, we are inspired to think creatively and collectively about how to help everyone recover better, how to build resilience, and how to transform our world into one that is more equal, more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable and healthier,” ODM leader said.

Regrets for Kenya

Raila urged SACCOs, chamas and microfinance institutions to reach out to small and casual businesses and lend people money on terms as favorable as possible, adding that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) should extend loans to SACCOs and chamas for on-lending to their customers.

He called on the government agencies to do better, adding that only a small number of businesses got financial assistance from the government after the first wave.

“Government should invest more money on infrastructure for small and casual businesses. Most of those businesses do not have access to electricity and clean water.

Big businesses should help small businesses. Let us help small businesses to become more efficient and be able to offer higher quality products and services,” said Raila.

Raila said that even as assistance is extended to alleviate immediate suffering, Kenyans must also make sure that coronavirus will not pose a major threat to the health of the people in the coming years.

“We require Covid-19 vaccination. Let us fight “vaccine nationalism,” he said.

Raila promised Kenyans free education and affordable medical care maintaining he is determined to transform the country. 

Speaking during the burial Muchai,  Odinga regretted Kenyans are still battling poverty, disease and ignorance more than five decades after independence. 

“Hospitals are even detaining bodies, you wonder if they want to eat them.”

Aiming a jab at DP William Ruto, the former Premier said together with retired President Mwai Kibaki, they launched flagship projects geared towards transforming the country. 

“Another one is now pretending to know a lot and saying Kazi Ni Kazi (Any job can do) but our youth deserve decent jobs.

We can transform this country that is why I recently launched my national vision (Azimio La Umoja) in Nakuru,” he added. 

“I am not looking for supporters but partners,” said Odinga, who described the deceased as a hard working citizen whose business acumen should be emulated. Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui called for urgent measures to tackle corruption.