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Kenya: Kisumu Joy Ahead of Raila Trip
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
9 May 2008
Posted to the web 8 May 2008
Peter Atsiaya And John Oywa
Nairobi
Prime Minister Raila Odinga flies to Kisumu on Saturday in an epic and emotional homecoming trip.
Top on his agenda are three crucial meetings with the Luo Council of Elders, a caucus of Luo professionals, regional ODM officials, local investors and church leaders.
The groups were on Thursday putting last touches to their memoranda to be presented to the Prime Minister.
The community's stake in the Coalition Government, the sharing of State jobs and the Kibaki succession are part of the agenda, insiders told The Standard.
All the 21 constituencies have selected 20 representatives each to meet Raila at the Tom Mboya Labour College tomorrow morning. Each constituency has prepared its own memorandum.
The Council of Elders is expected to present to Raila their expectations of the Coalition Government and what it holds for the community ahead of the 2012 General Election.
Also preparing to meet the PM are influential businessmen in Kisumu whose property worth billions of shillings was destroyed during post-election violence.
"The traders are having problems with insurance companies who have refused to compensate them. They want Raila to ask the Government to address their plight," said a trader who asked not to be named.
After the meetings at the Tom Mboya hall, Raila will drive to the Moi Stadium to address a rally.
The chairman of the homecoming organising committee, Mr Tom Dola, said the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders would crown Raila an elder and present him with traditional gifts.
"I am happy everything is going according to plan. We want to accord the PM a grand home coming," said Dola.
Dola said they would not use Government resources to organise the party.
"We have mobilised our own resources to welcome our son," he said.
It will be Raila's first official trip to Kisumu since he was appointed PM. He made a surprise stopover in the town last week on his way from the Rift Valley where he accompanied President Kibaki to visit displaced people.
The last time Raila made an official visit to the town was when he attended a prayer meeting for people who were killed during post-election skirmishes.
Hundreds of buses had been hired to ferry ODM supporters to the Moi Stadium.
Top Government officials, including Cabinet ministers and MPs from ODM and PNU are expected at the rally.
The PM will then host a party for his supporters in his native Bondo home on Sunday before attending a homecoming party for his brother, Dr Oburu Odinga, who's an assistant minister for Finance.
On Thursday, Kisumu was in a carnival mood as residents awaited the return of their political hero.
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Traders have also cashed in on the PMs visit by selling wall clocks, T-shirts, caps, watches, lessos, calendars and key holders that have Raila's image.
If this home coming will create employment reduce the deverstating poverty in nyanza then it is worth while.
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