RAILA ODINGA MAKES AN EMOTIONAL STATEMENT

ODM leader Raila Odinga has promised to address water and food shortages currently plaguing Samburu County in the event that he clinches the presidency at the August polls.

Speaking on Tuesday, when he took his Azimio la Umoja campaigns to the region, Odinga highlighted how residents in the area are finding it difficult to make ends meet especially when the dry season hits.

According to the former premier, his government will ensure that water catchment projects are set up across various points in the region, prior to the dry seasons, to ensure that residents have enough reserve supply to survive the dry spells.

“Hapa samburu kuna baa la njaa kwa sababu ya ukame. Kuna shida mingi sana kwa upande ya maji na sisi tumesema tutasaidia watu wetu. Mambo ya ukame tunataka iishe na shida ya maji tumesema kama mvua inanyesha tunajenga mabwawa, tunavuna maji ya mvua ili ukame ikikuja maji iko ya kutosha wananchi,” Odinga said in Maralal township.

Odinga added that he will likewise ensure that the ongoing construction of Yamo dam, which is expected to supply 6,160 cubic metres of water to Maralal Town and its environs on a daily basis, is completed in due time for the betterment of the region.

“Hapa tayari kuna bwawa imejengwa pale inaitwa Yamo Dam. Mfereji tu imebaki iwekwe pale ili maji iingie mpaka hapa. Ntahakikisha hiyo mfereji imewekwa na maji imeingia mpaka hapa,” Odinga said.

In matters infrastructure development, the ODM leader vowed to tarmac all roads in the county and its environs citing that he played an integral role in laying the foundation for the construction of the Maralal-Rumuruti road during his stint as transport minister when retired president Mwai Kibaki led the nation.

He further stated that he would continue with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s development legacy by ensuring that all infrastructure projects commissioned by the Head-of-State are completed after his exit from office.

With Kenya and the whole world marking World Women’s Day on Wednesday, Odinga also vowed to incorporate women in high-ranking government positions underscoring that women are the country’s future.

“Kwa serikali yetu tutaona kwamba wamama wameingia huko ndani kwa wingi, nataka wamama wetu wasimame bega kwa bega na sisi. Nchi ambayo inaweka kina mama nyuma haiwezi kuendelea mbele. Tunataka wamama wapate fursa ya kufanya kazi. Sisi tutawaunga wamama mkono waendelee mbele,” he said.

Courtesy