Politics
I Will Make Healthcare Top Priority – Raila Odinga
ODM leader Raila Odinga has promised universal healthcare from next year if he becomes president.
He said quality healthcare remains a pipedream for many Kenyans decades after independence.
Raila said his administration would increase the doctor-to-patient ratio to international standards. “We will upgrade facilities and evenly distribute doctors to cover the entire country,” he said.
Under his watch, the ODM chief said, doctors will have better terms to enable them serve Kenyans full-time and reduce maternal deaths.
“We don’t want someone working for government and also having a private practice. You must choose to work full time,” he said.
He was addressing concerns by women leaders that some doctors leave their workstations due to harsh work conditions and poor pay.
Meanwhile, a caucus of women dubbed “Azimio la kina mama” threw their weight behind Raila’ presidential bid. The pro-handshake women leaders announced countrywide campaigns to popularise Raila and his Azimio la Umoja drive.
Raila urged women to turn out in large numbers and vote in next year’s General Election. He was accompanied by his wife Ida and daughters Rosemary and Winnie.
Led by Public Service and Gender Chief Administrative Secretary Beatrice Elachi, the women said Raila is better placed to succeed President Kenyatta.
They said women were pushing for the inclusion of their agenda into Raila’s manifesto, even as they seek to field 5,000 female candidates in next year’s elections.
To meet the elusive gender rule in government, former Nyeri Woman Rep Priscilla Nyokabi proposed that Raila’s administration, if he wins, fills half of Cabinet and Principal Secretaries appointments with women. “This is a journey of unity and peace. Today, women join the Azimio la Umoja train,” said Nyokabi, also a commissioner at the National Gender and Equity Commission.
“We affirm our commitment that we are with you in this journey because we know we are safe in your hands,” added Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara. Nyokabi said: “We want to thank you for believing in peace and showing us peace. We are safe in Raila’s hands.”
Murang’a Woman MP Sabina Chege admitted they had to demonise the ODM leader in Mt Kenya for Uhuru to win, saying they had now embarked on a journey to undo the 2013 and 2017 campaign propaganda against Raila.
“We have called you names. On behalf of Central voters, I ask for forgiveness. We do not have a reformist, a person who has fought for democracy as Baba,” Sabina said.
Deputy President William Ruto has vowed to that his government if given the mandate to lead the country in the August 9 polls will deal with hands-on with ‘State capture.’
According to the Presidential candidate, state policies are being used to facilitate the theft of public funds as corruption had been absorbed into government.
DP William Ruto made these calims while speaking to the Reuters in an interview.
“We have no intention of prosecuting President Uhuru Kenyatta, but we have every intention of dealing with State capture. It cannot be business as usual,” the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate said.
DP Ruto’s running mate, Rigathi Gachagua also alluded to said State capture, saying those involved will be dealt with should Kenya Kwanza form the next government.
“We will not go after individuals. We will go after all those in state capture and conflict of interest,” Gachagua said in a joint media broadcast.
The Mathira MP vaguely explained that it was “people in power who have used or are using their offices to use up public resources to their advantage,” when asked who or what State capture was.
The DP has also revealed plans of bringing to end the Kenya’s national debt, which currently stands at Sh9 trillion, in an exclusive interview with international media.
He said the country has the capacity to handle the debt situation, and that they as Kenya Kwanza have mapped out plans of how to go about it, should they win.
“We will put the brakes on more borrowing. It may not come to zero but we will begin the journey to slow down on more borrowing,” the DP said.
Campaigns hit fever pitch and candidates scramble for airtime to sell their agendas with just eighteen (18) days left as Kenya will soon be headed to the General Election.
Sonko has increased the intense in the race for Mombasa county which already has aspirants from the UDA and ODM parties.
Sonko has finally been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat.
On Thursday, July 14 2022, Sonko in the accompany of his supporters was given the green light.
The former Nairobi governor was invited by the IEBC to submit his letter for clearance as per a letter addressed to him earlier.
“The venue will be the IEBC Mombasa County offices and you are expected to submit your papers on July 14, 2022 between 2pm and 4pm,” Swalha Ibrahim the returning officer said.
The letter to Sonko came after a high court ruled that the politician doesn’t be disqualified from vying for governor noting that the governor was eligible to run for office. The commission said it could not head to the courts to appeal the decision as time could not allow.
Addressing the media after the clearance, Sonko said his candidature seeks to solve the problems of the people in the Coastal city and that he was bringing a new awakening in the city.
Sonko said he was not worried about the short time time line he has to undertake the campaigns in the large city noting that he was drawing a campaign schedule to begin immediately.
“We must campaign, we have few days but we will utilize them properly. We can do two days per constituency or a day per constituency,” Sonko noted.
Corporate Training Telemarketer at People FOCO
Care Team Senior Supervisor at Cigna
