A chance and benefit of doubt are in order for Raila Odinga!!! Standard Team (sent by Sarah Aura)

By Standard Team

Two top parties battling for State House went head-to-head on Wednesday, in a bare-knuckled contest that served as a sneak preview of what the campaigns proper will offer.

President Kibaki meets wananchi in Dandora, Nairobi.

Split in teams campaigning in various parts of the country, ODM sought to unmask what it described as the "Seven Lies" about Majimbo that President Kibaki and the Party of National Unity (PNU) have been telling to drive a chill down the spines of the electorate.

"Every time you hear someone repeat any of the seven big lies, refuse to listen. You know the truth. Protect it and you will be protecting your future and the future of your children and your grandchildren. This is your opportunity to change your life," ODM, reading from the script of a paid-up advert that will appear in the press, urged voters.

But Kibaki, who spent the whole day tirelessly campaigning in Nairobi and seemed all set to fight the battle of his life to recapture the presidency, showed scant respect for his protagonists.

In typical style, though, he never referred to them by name. Instead, he casually dismissed one candidate, presumably, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, the ODM-Kenya presidential candidate, as a "miracle" worker, who should wait until "next time".

Then, in apparent reference to Mr Raila Odinga, the ODM presidential candidate, Kibaki spoke of a politician fond of speaking big of himself yet had done nothing to show Kenyans what he was capable of.

On a day that violence, heckling and booing returned to haunt the campaigns, Justice minister Ms Martha Karua led two other ministers, Mr David Mwiraria (Environment) and Mr Mohammed Kuti (Youth Affairs), in demonising Raila as a man who had been given a chance to perform, but had failed as Roads minister.

First Lady Lucy Kibaki ran into hostile, ODM-chanting, crowds on the campaign trail in Western Province, while ODM Pentagon members, Mr Joseph Nyagah and Mrs Charity Ngilu, and party secretary-general, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, and activist Ms Mumbi Ngaru were literally chased out of Nanyuki.

Riot police escorted the vehicle carrying the leaders out of town, with pro-PNU youths giving chase.

More defections

Supporters join former minister Charity Ngilu and Anyang’ Nyong’o in Laikipia.

In Moyale and Marsabit, where Raila and Pentagon member Mr William Ruto campaigned, the party promised to devolve power if it formed the next government, saying devolution was the only way power and resources would reach and be shared by marginalised communities.

Doing the Western Province circuit, ODM presidential running mate, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, worked to slay the ‘Majimbo ghost’, explaining that the Orange party will push for devolution of power and resources and told the electorate to be wary of PNU propaganda on the issue.

More signs of things to come as the political landscape keeps shifting were evident at Chungwa House, when Assistant Agriculture minister, Mr Kyalo Kaindi, joined ODM-Kenya after resigning from Government.

But Mr Samuel Kivuitu — on whose tenure as chairman of the Electoral Commission the clock is steadily ticking — put a damper on the unfolding scenario with a candid warning that the manner in which the electoral body was being reconstituted could undermine the fairness of the General Election.

Joluo.com

Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com