Raila Uses Friendship with Tanzania President John Magufuli to Win over Votes

National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga has promised free movement across the Kenya-Tanzania border when he is elected as the president in the upcoming general election.

Speaking in Namanga in Kajiado County on Friday, the former Prime Minister said that he will use his close friendship with Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli to ensure that the Kenya- Tanzania border is opened up for free movement.

"(President John Pombe) Magufuli is my friend; I will speak to him and ensure that this border is opened," Odinga said at the Namanga border post from where he started a series of roadside campaigns in Kajiado County.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader at the same time blamed the current frosty relations between Kenya and Tanzania on Jubilee administration, saying that it was caused by “insults hurled by people in Jubilee government”.

Kenyans were in the recent past thrown out of Tanzania for lack of work permits, while others were detained and charged in Tanzanian courts for being in the country illegally.

Raila said that NASA government would transform the border town of Namanga into an industrial park to provide employment for the youth and have special kitty for single mothers and widows so as to save them from high cost of living.

"Nasa will bring down the cost of living within the first 100 days in office," he added.

"Parents will only need to send their children to school. The rest, fees, pens and books and teachers’ salaries will be provided by the government," Odinga said.