Election Watch 2013: Uhuru Kenyatta - Jubilee Presidential Candidate talks to Aljazeera

Memorable Quotes
There is no escaping the fact that I am whom I am - Uhuru Kenyatta

Election Watch 2013: William Ruto - Jubilee Running Mate talks to Aljazeera

 

Key Take Aways
First order of business is fighting unemployment

Potentials
Tap into tourism and agriculture

Elections 2013: Battle for On-line Votes – Jubilee Alliance has the upper hand

The Jubilee Alliance campaign secretariat has in the last month proved to be better organized in terms of well managed on-line presence. In the last one week creative juices seems to be emanating more from this coalition which seems to have put their all on winning this elections.

The other notable observations are that this campaign seems to have an appreciation of design thinking. This alliance was the first to incorporate the voting sticker to their posters.

Crafted campaign with element of civic education

In the country side the campaign has come up with clear targeted billboards such as this one below which targets votes in agricultural production areas.

Billboards in Agricultural heartland of Kenya

Election 2013 Watch: ‘Tyranny by Numbers’ Presentation by Political Scientist Ngunyi Mutahi and its Aftermath

Ngunyi Mutahi was the talk of town this week because of his presentation which asserts that Jubilee coalition will win March 4 elections based on support from their ethnic folks.

Mutahi Ngunyi is a popular political commentator who can be equated to either Karl Rove or Dick Morris of the US. Mutahi espoused his hypothesis in which he quips the elections we're won in December 18, 2012. That is the date IEBC finished the voter registration exercise. This hypothesis gives Jubilee alliance a win in the first round based on the strength of Kikuyu and Kalenjin votes. 

Voter registration as at December 18, 2012. [Source: IEBC]

This analysis was the basis of this interview between Sakaja Johnson the head of TNA party [Uhuru Kenyatta’s party in Jubilee coalition] and Dr. Adams Oloo [Political Scientist and head dept. of Political Science at University of Nairobi – my former teacher I must add]

This analysis has resulted to a number of other ‘ analysis’ by political pundits. According to Makodingo the CORD Coalition a win in round one. 

Makodingo Analysis 

Makodingo is a political consultant affiliated to the CORD coalition. He came up with this set of numbers [below] that give the PM a win in the first round with a 50.5% of the votes cast IF the turnout is above 70%.

How Raila and Kalonzo Could Win in The First Round from MAKODINGO

This analysis can be considered to be a rebutt to Mutahi Ngunyi’s ‘tyranny by numbers’ hypothesis by the PM aides. 

Based on

Projected voter turn out per region and per from MAKODINGO

Elections 2013: Jubilee the Coalition of Ideas Vs CORD's 10 Point Programme

Jubilee Manifesto Launch [Photo: UK's Facebook page]

The Jubilee alliance launched its manifesto on February 3, 2013 at Kasarani Stadium with pomp, color and fun fare. This launch proceeded CORD manifesto launch by days. What emerged was that the Jubilee manifesto document and gig was a well thought out and orchestrated affair. The only missing thing was how the Jubilee administration if it ascended to power was going to carry out its extremely ambitious agenda.

Credit must be given where due and in my own opinion think this manifesto after going through it is an extremely beautiful document. That said the Jubilee rank need to organize a public engagement where the crafters of this document can tell us how they propose to actualize it.

Looking at the three pillars of this manifesto namely Umoja [Unity], Uchumi [Economy] and Uwazi [Openness] it reminds me of Vision 2030 which also has three pillars namely Political, Social & Economic pillars. Under each pillar we have compartments with;

1.       Umoja [Unity] pillar which is composed of;

·         National Cohesion

·         Internal Security

·         Trade & Industry

·         Social Protection

·         Arts, sports & culture

·         Health

·         Education

·         Youth employment

·         Women’s empowerment

2.       Uchumi [Economy]

·         Growth & Development

·         Manufacturing

·         ICT

·         Tourism

·         Land reform

·         Energy

·         Agriculture

·         Water

·         Environment

·         Transport

·         Housing

3.       Uwazi [Openness]

·         Corruption

·         Good governance

·         Devolution

CORD Manifesto Launch at KICC

CORD on the other hand a 10 point programme. These are;

1.       Jobs

2.       Food Security

3.       Security

4.       People led government

5.       Poverty & cost of living

6.       Social equality

7.       Infrastructure and land

8.       Quality education

9.       Health care

10.   One indivisible nation

Download the Harmonised Jubilee Manifesto here and CORD 10 point plan here