KENYA: WHY JUBILEE, NASA HAVE FOCUSED CAMPAIGNS ON 5 ZONES

The Jubilee Party and opposition's National Super Alliance have held more rallies in five regions than in any other part of the country, convinced the areas could hold the key to a victory in the August 8 General Election.

The Coast, former Western province, Narok and Kajiado counties, Kisii and Baringo have emerged as the areas where the election could be lost or won if the frequency with which both political sides have held rallies there is anything to go by.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his main challenger Raila Odinga have both visited western Kenya six and five times respectively in just one month, signifying how crucial the voting bloc could be to both sides.

SIX TIMES

In the month of June alone, Mr Odinga has followed in President Kenyatta's footsteps, visiting each of the region's five counties, hoping to consolidate the base that has over time been unable to unite behind the elusive Luhya unity.

President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have cumulatively campaigned in the Coast three times from the end of May, seeking to get a slice of votes in an area that overwhelming cast its lot with Mr Odinga in 2013Narok and Kajiado counties have also become a play ground for the vote seeking machines, with Jubilee visiting the former five times and the latter twice.

BARINGO COUNTY

Jubilee and Nasa have similarly visited Nyamira and Kisii counties twice and thrice respectively. The two rivals have campaigned twice in Baringo County.

On Wednesday, Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe said the President and his deputy have been targeting areas that were opposition strongholds in 2013 but have since showed signs of warming up to the government.He named the areas as western Kenya, Coast and Kisii counties.It is the potential for harvesting votes, particularly in former hostile areas, which we can now convert into swing areas.You can see what we are doing in western Kenya, Coast and Kisii areas," he said on the telephone. Regarding Narok County, he said the party had eliminated the obstacle which cost them votes in the last elections.

SPLITTING VOTES

"Narok is now okay because our challenge last time was splitting votes between TNA and URP. Now we are one party," he said.

Nasa's national campaign committee executive director Kibisu Kabatesi explained that the number of rallies in a region were determined by information received from campaign team coordinators across the country."We draw the campaign schedule based on the analysis we have made based on information from our team on the ground," he said.The Nairobi office, he explained, operates on a 24-hour basis and always communicates with the regional leaders.

ATTEND RALLY

Before the principals attend a rally in any place, they meet with area leaders to fine-tune the relevant message for the voters. In his vote hunting forays in western Kenya, President Kenyatta visited Bungoma on June 11, Busia (June 14), Kakamega (June 17), and Vihiga on June 23, while Mr Odinga toured the same counties on June 23, 25 and 24 respectively. "In 2013, you slipped from our fingers and voted for the other side. This time in 2017, we will not let you vote differently from us. We are not going to let you stay in the cold," Deputy President William Ruto has consistently told western voters.