Tuju gets mixed reception in Kisumu

Presidential aspirant Raphael Tuju yesterday received a mixed reception in Kisumu with his motorcade stoned in one area and cheering crowds in others.The former Cabinet minister stirred the lakeside city in his first campaign tour as hundreds of supporters and opposers followed him around the town.

One resident had a placard that read "Wewe ni ndume. Nyanza si shamba la mtu mmoja (You are a hero. Nyanza is not anyone's shamba)," while another read "Usitishwe na yeyote (Let no one cow you)."

Tuju left his Milimani Estate home in a convoy and visited all the major residential estates in the town including Nyalenda, Manyatta, Kibuye, the main bus stop and Kondele. "The Luo should not put all their eggs in one basket," said one shopkeeper who was given an opportunity to speak in Manyatta.

He was probably referring to Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the presidential aspirant considered most popular among the Luo. From Milimani, Tuju traversed sections of the town without a hitch up to Kondele where he encountered a hostile crowd. Tuju's campaign bus was stoned by the crowd, shattering a window. Two other vehicles were also damaged by the stone-throwing youth.

The group shouted "No Raila No peace" as they chased after the Tuju convoy. Some in the crowd said Tuju was a spoiler for Raila's campaign in his stronghold Nyanza....Click here