JUBA – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit has said it has registered more than 4.5 million members during the ongoing mass mobilization campaign across the country.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference in Juba on Friday, Peter Lam Both, the SPLM Interim Secretary-General, said the more than 4.5 million members were registered within a period of five months.

“Since the launch of the SPLM renaissance mission in March this year which our competition took for elections campaign, we have registered more than 4.5 million people as members of the SPLM across the states,” Lam told reporters at Friday’s press conference in Juba.

Lam said the registration is ongoing and the number is expected to increase.

“We started the registration of the SPLM members in March this year and every state chairperson with their state secretarial are asked to start registration from Bomas, Payams, Counties, and State headquarters,” Lam said.

“They have reported to us what they have done and we went to the state to verify that and this is how we came with number 4.5 million.”

Lam claimed that the ruling was blocked by SPLA-IO commanders from carrying out mobilization in their IO-controlled areas.

“With exception of some counties where SPLM-IO commanders are not informed that we are at peace in Juba, they denied SPLM to organize in those areas even as we allow IO elements to enjoy in the areas which we control,” Lam claimed.

The SPLM launched the Renaissance initiative in March this year.

President Salva Kiir has been endorsed as the SPLM flag-bearer in Eastern Equatoria State, Jonglei State, Lakes State, Unity State’s and among others, as the ruling party pushed for the 2008 census to be used in anticipated 2023 elections. - Sudans Post

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga has scoffed at his opponent for telling him to drop off the August 9 elections if he has sensed defeat.

Addressing a rally in Kianyaga in Kirinyaga County yesterday, Mr Odinga wondered: “How am I supposed to quit a race in which I am leading with up to 65 per cent and projected to hit 70 per cent by the election date?”

He said the Azimio coalition meant to send a warning to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that it would not participate in a lopsided contest. “We only wanted to send a warning to IEBC that we will not allow our victory to be stolen,” he added. 

Mr Odinga said his coalition was leading in almost all key counties, including in Mt Kenya, which was previously seen as a stronghold of Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). 

“Some people wrote that we were planning to boycott the election. We cannot do this when the victory is ours. We are victorious and we cannot do such a thing,” he said. 

The team said they had insider information that all was not well at IEBC. 

“We know the monkey games they have been playing in there, and we even have evidence that a commissioner bought a building in Mombasa through questionable proceeds. We will take action once we are in power. That building will be taken over by the government and be a Deputy County Commissioner’s office,” Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said at Wang’uru Township in Mwea. 

Mr Junet said Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula must provide answers on alleged IEBC dealings.

Mr Odinga promised to lower the cost of living within 100 days if Azimio takes over power. During stops in Kagio and Kerugoya town, he said he was aware Kenyans were suffering as a result of high prices of essential commodities, especially flour, and pledged to lower the same by a margin of Sh100 if elected president on August 9.

“This is something our joint administration will change within the first three months in office,” Mr Odinga said. By Nderitu Gichure and Jane Mugambi, The Standard.