The two leading presidential candidates Deputy President William Ruto and Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga are today set to hold their final campaigns in Nairobi ahead of Tuesday’s general election.
This will mark the end of 2022 campaigns as stipulated in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) regulations with politicians making the last minute appeal to the public.
After traversing the vast country in recent months, Ruto will be speaking at the 30,000-seat Nyayo National Stadium while Odinga is expected to address a crowd at the 60,000-seat Kasarani Stadium.
On Thursday, Ruto confirmed that they will hold their rally at the stadium after paying for it.
“We have already paid for Nyayo Stadium. We have a contract in place with them. They attempted to alter the contract, but the court ruled that we should hold our meeting there,” Ruto explained.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said the gathering in Kasarani will be a “Firimbi fest” and that hundreds of supporters would come.
“We expect our supporters to be at Kasarani Stadium early and in large numbers for our last rally. Our lineup in Nairobi is Azimio six. Baba na Mama (for the presidency), Polycarp Igathe (governor), Sifuna (senator), Esther Passaris (Woman Rep), MP and MCA from Azimio. We welcome all for Firimbi fest on Saturday,” Sifuna said.
The closely contested race has fuelled speculation that Kenya may see its first presidential run-off, with many fearing that a challenge to the outcome might unleash street violence.
Ruto has promised to build a “bottom-up” economy in a country where three out of every ten people survive on less than $1.90 a day, according to the World Bank.
Meanwhile, Odinga has made the battle against corruption a centerpiece of his campaign, noting that Ruto’s running mate is under a bribery investigation.
With neither contender from the Mt Kenya region, which has produced three of Kenya’s four presidents, the election will usher in a new era in the country’s history.
According to analysts, the economic crisis will certainly contend with tribal allegiances as a major factor influencing voter behavior.
The DP expects to get the most votes from city dwellers who support his Hustlers program. Aside from making their final presentations to the city’s 2.5 million voters, the two will use the events to portray greater popularity than their opponents before D-Day.