By Frontier Online Team.
Former Prime Minister and ODM party leaders Raila Odinga is touring parts of Northern Kenya in a charm offensive to take his message to the pastoralists communities to throw their weight behind in his get to be declared stint at the presidency.
Raila arrived today in Garissa county where he addressed several stopovers while accompanied by host governor Ali Bunow Korane upon landing at Garissa Airstrip.
The ODM boss called for an affirmative action plan to boost the education sector in the northern region stating that the problems facing the region in regards to education and insecurity are part of a national dialogue in his much-hyped Azimio la Umoja to be able to bring forth and identify problems facing various regions in the country.
“Let us base our politics on development, what we have done to citizens and how to better their future. Let us not practice politics of dividing our people along ethnic inclinations,” said Raila.
The opposition leader also outlined that the school feeding program should be emboldened to address malnutrition among pupils and students in the local schools.
Raila who disclosed that he was the brains behind the tarmacking of the Garissa-Nuno-Modogashe road said that top on his agenda if elected, will be the completion of the road to Mandera.
“I want to give an assurance the completion of the road will top on my agenda. I want to see to it that we move the road from Modogashe to Wajir then to Mandera. Then the one from Wajir will be tarmacked to Moyale,” said Raila.
Teachers crisis
On teachers shortage in the region that has remained a thorn in the flesh of locals, Raila said that his administration will ensure that the locals who are form 4 leavers will be given priority to joining teachers training colleges to address the problem.
The three counties of Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera have since 2013 faced teacher shortage following the mass exodus of non local teachers following a spate of terror attacks.
“This region can become the backbone of our countries economy if we fully maximize the potential of the livestock sector. we want to a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse where people can be taking their animals for slaughter,” Raila said.
Youth empowerment
On youth, Raila said that his administration will have a special ministry that will be dealing with youth affairs noting that among the responsibilities the ministry will be charged with dealing will be issuing loans saying that it was unfortunate that hundreds of youth who have gone to school were languishing in poverty because they lack the capital to start a business.
On his part Garissa county governor, Ali Korane said that the leadership meeting with the former premier will be followed by a series of other consultative meetings across the region they will conclude with a declaration.
“We shall plan and coordinate structured engagement with the region focusing on elected leaders community leaders, Farmers, faith organizations, and key opinion leaders and shapers in the region,” said Korane.
The ODM leader is expected to meet delegates and leaders from the five counties of Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo, Marsabit, and Mandera.
