Uhuru ends two-month campaign with call for huge turnout

President Uhuru Kenyatta today wrapped his two-month re-election campaign with a meet-the-people tour of Nairobi where he urged Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to vote in the October 26 fresh poll.

President Kenyatta also assured Kenyans of adequate security before, on and after the voting day.

“We are warning any one who will be tempted to block Kenyans from exercising their democratic right to vote will be dealt with according to the law,” President Kenyatta said.

The President, accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, said Kenyans are tired of the prolonged electioneering period and want to finish with politics on October 26 so that they can get back to their nation building activities.

“We need to do away with elections so that we can continue with our development activities,” said the President.

Other leaders who accompanied the President included Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, Senator Johnson Sakaja and a host of Members of Parliament.

In a message directed to the Opposition President Kenyatta said: “Allow Kenyans to vote peacefully. Those who want to vote should be allowed to exercise their rights the same way as those who do not want to vote.”

The President asked Kenyans to embrace peace and shun tribalism, saying they should not accept to be incited to fight by politicians who are only out to satisfy their personal interests.

“We should always cherish the peace and stability we are enjoying, let us not allow individuals to divide us because of their selfish interests,” said President Kenyatta.

The President added: “We do not want to see Kenyans shedding blood because of politics.”

The President and his deputy’s final campaign lap ahead of the fresh presidential poll on Thursday started at City Hall in Nairobi with more than nine stops including South B, Embakasi, Kayole and Umoja estates to mobilise voters.

At City Hall, President Kenyatta flagged off 27 fire fighting trucks which will be deployed to all wards within the city of Nairobi.

The President said the new fire fighting trucks will enable the county government to promptly combat fire incidents to protect the lives and property of Nairobi residents against fire.

Earlier on Monday, President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto met IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati to discuss the fresh election. The President made it clear that he had no demands to the IEBC, except to see an election held in terms of the Supreme Court order, on October 26.

The President assured that no one will be allowed to derail the voting process on the October 26 fresh presidential election.

The electoral commission gazetted today (October 23) as the last day of all presidential election campaigns, 48 hours to the October 26 repeat presidential poll.