I Have Seen Canaan, Raila Says in Final Appeal to Kenyans Ahead of Elections

Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga has made his final appeal to Kenyans ahead of Tuesday's general election.

Speaking during his final campaign rally at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday, Odinga expressed confidence that the future is bright for Kenyans in the Azimio government.

“I have seen Canaan; the land of milk and honey. The land of “…No woman, No cry”. I have seen the Promised Land; the land of The Redemption Song…We are soon entering Canaan and in Canaan, we must embrace reconciliation. In my government there will be no revenge, I pledge to be the president of all,” said Odinga.

Odinga, who is giving his fifth shot at the presidency, said he and his running mate Martha Karua are not simply running to win an election but to transform Kenya into a first-class global democracy and economy.

“We are running to make Kenya a first-class global democracy and economy. We are running to build a Kenya of hope and opportunity; a Kenya not of 45 individual tribes but one big Kenyan tribe,” he added.

He pledged that in the first 100 days, the Azimio government will begin paying Sh6000 to families living below the poverty line until they reach a place where they can feed their children without our help. 

“This is what we are calling Social Protection…These families need direct government funds to feed their children,” said Odinga.

The ODM party leader explained that the country loses Sh800 billion annually to corruption which is twice the economy of two of Kenya’s neighbors in the East African Community.

“The Auditor General tells us that 800 billion shillings is stolen every year through corruption…The question we should be asking is how a few corrupt people got to be paid 800 billion shillings every year from our budget. If we could afford to pay 800 billion to CONMEN, we can afford to pay a mere 6000 shillings to known and real Kenyans struggling with life,” Odinga added.

Odinga, 77, assured Kenyans that he will continue with this handshake doctrine for the sake of Kenya whether he wins or loses the upcoming election.

“I shook the hand of Mzee Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi in March 2002, of President Kibaki in February 2008 and of my brother President Uhuru Kenyatta in March 2018. I want to assure Kenyans that I will continue with this HANDSHAKE DOCTRINE, the doctrine of unclenching the fist. For the sake of Kenya, I will shake the hand of my rivals and pay the political price if I have to,” he said.

“I will shake their hand if I win. And I will shake their hand if I don’t. And I will do it because I love Kenya more than I love Raila Amolo Odinga.”

He concluded: “I need the vote of each and every one of you listening to me now. Choose your president yourself.”