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Uhuru leads Jubilee vote-hunt in Mombasa , NASA's Raila woos Kapkatet

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President Uhuru Kenyatta will lead Jubilee campaign in Mombasa on Wednesday two days before NASA flag bearer Raila Odinga.

The Opposition chief will, on the other hand, lead his brigade on a vote-hunting mission in Kericho at the historic Kapkatet grounds.

While in the region, Raila is expected to drum up support for Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto's reelection in the wake of competition from Jubilee's Joyce Laboso (Sotik MP).

Jubilee will be at Tononoka Grounds from 2pm, being Uhuru's third tour in one month and the last before next Tuesday's vote.

Much as Mombasa is considered a NASA stronghold, Jubilee Party is keen on seizing a number of political seats in the region.

A poll by TIFA released on Monday showed 70 per cent residents feel closer to NASA and 21 per cent to the ruling coalition. Eight per cent are undecided.

Jubilee Mombasa governor candidate Suleiman Shahbal said they expect 20,000 supporters to attend the rally as campaigns head into the home stretch.

NASA has held no rally in Mombasa in the past three months. Only ODM has conducted series of political meetings, some attended by Raila.

ODM is an affiliated party of the National Super Alliance whose members include Wiper, Chama cha Mashinani, Ford Kenya and Amani National Congress.

"It will be the mother of all rallies," Shahbal said after inspecting the venue on Tuesday.

His deputy Anania Mwaboza raised fresh allegations that Opposition is planning to suppress voter turnout in the county.

Mwaboza claimed chaos will be triggered in Timbwani-LIkoni, Mikindani-Changamwe, and Junda-Kisauni to scare away voters.

There are 86,331 voters in Changamwe, 69,307 in Jomvu and 87,326 in Likoni.

Uhuru is targeting at least 40 per cent of 580,223 Mombasa votes.

More on this: Take 'tourist' Uhuru's money but vote for NASA, Joho tells Coast residents

Also read: More goodies for Coast as Uhuru announces plans for Voi dry port

In 2013, he only managed 64,793 (24%) of the total 408,747 registered voters at that time. Raila garnered 189,985 votes (70 per cent).

The 67 per cent voter turnout then, was influenced by the attacks on Changamwe police station by Mombasa Republican Council. At least three police died.

Shahbal said the rally will mark the final stretch to liberalise Mombasa.

"People are tired. It has been four and half years of waste. Money from national government has disappeared," he said.

He said the county has not explained how funds from the National Treasury were utilised adding that "politics of confrontation will come to end after polls."

The head of state is likely to rally residents to see the importance of freeing up the congested Mombasa Port.

Jubilee Administration is rooting for the establishment of a dry port in Naivasha, an issue that has shaped their competition with NASA.

In the last governor poll, Shahbal, then running on Wiper ticket, emerged second after Joho with 94,918 votes. Joho garnered 132,507 votes.

Read: Joho still choice Mombasa governor, Raila preferred president -TIFA


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