President Uhuru Kenyatta has claimed Opposition leader Raila Odinga wants to withdraw from October 26 repeat presidential race in order to cause anarchy.

During an address to Coast leaders in Mombasa on Monday, the President challenged Mr Odinga to quit if he is not ready to participate in the race.

He further said that Mr Odinga is putting hurdles to the October 26 poll so that it does not happen.

NASA DEMANDS

The Head of State cited Nasa demands including, changes in the electoral commission, a new printer of the presidential ballot papers, claims of Safaricom involvement in irregularities in last August polls and attacks on Parliament as clues indicating that Mr Odinga does not want to participate in the repeat vote.

“He (Mr Odinga) is free to withdraw from the race if he is not interested. Kenyans must be allowed to move forward,” President Kenyatta said.

He said he did not know the reasons Mr Odinga will give when he announces leaving the race “because he is full of excuses.”

“Kenyans are tired and want to move forward. If he (Mr Odinga) does not want elections he should keep off and let the country move forward,” President Kenyatta who is on a three-day tour of the Coast region that started on Sunday said.

CAMPAIGN

The President said about Sh12 billion had been set aside for the repeat polls and that Kenyans were ready for the exercise.

He said Jubilee Party had started its campaigns and will do door to door drive.

He reiterated that he beat Mr Odinga hands down in the August votes and that if the ballot papers could be recounted it will vindicate him.

Deputy President William Ruto said the Jubilee administration will not accept to share power with the National Super Alliance.

“Power sharing government is unconstitutional. What we know is for Kenyans to decide through the ballot,” Mr Ruto said.

The DP accused Nasa leader Raila Odinga of wanting to make the country ungovernable so that to force formation of a power-sharing government.

Mr Mruttu who sought re-election as Taita Taveta Governor as independent after ditching ODM but lost to journalist Granton Samboja campaigned for President Kenyatta re-election.

He said problems facing coast is historical and that President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto were addressing them.

Mr Mruttu cited roads and education improvement as some of Jubilee administration achievement.

“That is why I will join those campaigning for President Kenyatta re-election,” he said.

He called on the government to address boundary row between Tsavo National Park and locals and address the squatter issue in Taita Taveta.

He called on coast residents to back Jubilee leadership based on its manifesto.

Former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar also reiterated his support for President Kenyatta’s re-election.

He hailed President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto for playing issue based politics and that coast was lagging behind in development due to “calibre of leaders who were elected.”