Raila Odinga: Our plans for the poor will work
Mr Nabii Nabwera and ODM leader Raila Odinga in Lugari yesterday during the burial service of Mr Nabwera’s mother, Julia Taracha.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chief Raila Odinga has defended the economic revival and social protection fund he is propagating, saying they will uplift 20 million Kenyans from poverty.
Mr Odinga said he would draw from his experience in government as Prime Minister to deliver the plan and improve the incomes of poor households should he be elected as the country’s fifth President on August 9.
He said he knows how the government generates money and that his priority would be to help poor families economically.
“The kitty will see every poor household get Sh6,000 a month. We want our women to be respected. Our educated youth should be given jobs, not wheelbarrows,” he said in Lugari where he attended the burial of Ms Julia Taracha, the mother of Kakamega County Livestock Chief Officer Nabii Nabwera.
“This plan will enable us fight poverty and create wealth. Poverty has increased in urban areas after people lost their jobs.”
Mr Odinga said many people lack food and cannot pay rent.
“This is why we promise to give them government money every month,” he said.
Present were Governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and James Ongwae (Kisii), MPs Ayub Savula (Lugari), Godfrey Osotsi (Nominated), Justus Kizito (Shinyalu) and Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda.
Mr Odinga said his economic model and liberation plan for the poor is aimed at achieving one of the three key independent Kenya pillars of eradicating poverty through industries and social protection fund. The other pillars are fighting diseases and ignorance.
He dismissed Deputy President William Ruto’s bottom-up economic model, calling it backward.
Mr Odinga said his is an economic liberation effort meant to revive industries and create thousands of jobs.
He cited earlier liberations, including the country’s independence in 1963 and the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
“We brought Azimio la Umoja to unite Kenyans and enable us fight poverty, diseases and ensure quality education,” Mr Odinga said.
“I have made public my 10-point agenda that will ensure money is available to all, industrialisation and quality health through Baba Care.”
Governor Oparanya revisited the December 31, 2021 Bukhungu II declaration, saying politicians in Western Kenya would take the direction shown by elders.
During the Bukhungu rally that was hosted by Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli, elders said the region would throw its weight behind Mr Odinga.
“That will take us to Caanan,” Mr Oparanya said and asked residents to enlist themselves as voters during the mass registration.
Mr Savula defended his decision to support the Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja, saying it is visionary.
He told Western Kenya residents not to follow Dr Ruto.
The MP asked Mr Odinga to make him the head of the Azimio la Umoja Secretariat “to bring in the remaining Amani National Congress MPs”.
Former Funyula MP Mr Paul Otuoma said the Bukhungu II rally has given the region direction.
