Diaspora Group Launches a Two-Week Campaign to Seek Support for Raila-Karua Ticket

A group of Kenyans in the diaspora has launched a two-week campaign to drum up support for the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua.

The group comprising over 50 Azimio supporters from the United Kingdom, United States and European Union jetted into the country recently to woo voters in the Mt Kenya region to vote for Odinga in the upcoming elections.

During the two-week period, the caravan organized by Azimio Diaspora UK and the USA will tour all the nine Mt Kenya counties including Kiambu, Murang'a, Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Tharaka Nithi and Meru to mobilize votes for the coalition.

The campaign caravan was officially flagged off this week in Kiambu Town by Karua and other Azimio-allied leaders from Mt Kenya region and will cover a county per day until August 6th.

Maina Gatangi, the organizer of the diaspora campaign team in Kiambu said they are mainly targeting young voters, women and small-scale traders across the region with the aim of delivering at least two million votes to Odinga.

"Our target is to convince them to vote for those with integrity and can be trusted to deliver as opposed to the Kenya Kwanza politicians who were using lofty promises to win them," said Gatangi.  

Kivindyo Ndivo, Chairman of Azimio Diaspora UK and Europe chapters said they will not relent in efforts to ensure Raila-Karua victory.

"All our eyes are on the big prize for Raila. we will not only campaign but also support in the guarding of the vote after the polls, we are confident that Azimio will win by a big margin," Kivindyo told The Standard.

He further exuded confidence that diaspora voters across the US, UK, and EU will rally behind the Azimio coalition and vote for the Odinga-Karua ticket.

Women right activist and Azimio Diaspora UK Secretary General Rose Seko said they have launched a number of diaspora initiatives including "Baba Bodaboda brigade" where boda boda riders from across the 47 counties endorsed Odinga’s bid. Linda Kura initiative is also underway.

"This time round, the diaspora supporters are in full combat gear both back home and abroad in support of Raila-Karua bid to State House. We want to help in the protecting of the vote. We are working on the logistics together with the Raila campaign team so as to know where we can help to ensure that all Azimio votes are safe," said Seko.