Iron Lady faces voters’ fury as Unga politics consume Kenyans

dennis kibet

June 19, 2017 3:55 PM

Nasa leader Raila Odinga fuelled the already sensitive topic.

NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga during an impromptu visit to Uchumi supermarket on Sunday, June 18, 2017.

Kenya’s Iron Lady and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua had a weekend to forget over the weekend as she was heckled at her own Gichugu backyard which she represented in parliament for over 20 years.

Karua was forced to cut short her speech in Ngariama while with her running mate Joseph Gitari as she tried to address her constituents.

Karua is vying for the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat along on a Narc Kenya ticket against a formidable opponent in the form of former Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru of the Jubilee Party.

Trouble started when Karua said JP nominee Anne Waiguru is corrupt and should not be voted for.

The crowd started chanting pro-Waiguru slogans and told off Karua, saying she was an area MP for two decades but has nothing to show for it.

After failing to be given any audience by the angry residents, Karua and her entourage drove to the neighbouring Kamwana Market where she received the same hostile reception.

''You abandoned us during the hour of need and it our time now to vote for a leader who has the interest of her people,'' they shouted.

Unga Politics

Meanwhile, Unga Politics has taken centre stage with elections only 49 days away.

Nasa leader Raila Odinga fuelled the already sensitive topic among Kenyans after strolling in a Westlands Uchumi Supermarket where he was met with bare shelves as he sought the precious maize flour.

Raila soon after promptly held a press conference where he accused the Jubilee administration of politicising the maize shortage issue and incompetence in dealing with the crisis.

“Jubilee is withholding its services with a view to procuring and supplying food in the final weeks to the August 8 elections so that relief food can be used as a tool to buy support as used to be done in KANU days,” said Raila.

Raila's attack on the government seemed to have yielded some reaction as a few hours later, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett assured consumers of constant supply of Sh90 maize flour ending shortage that has persisted in the country for months.

Bett said the government has already received 1.2 million bags of maize and expects another 3.2 million bags to address the shortage.