Economy

Raila calls for end to firms’ products boycott over poll

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Mr Raila Odinga during Tuesday’s Labour Day celebrations in Nairobi. photo | jeff angote

National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday suspended the boycott of products from four firms -Safaricom #ticker:SCOM, Brookside, Haco and Bidco- less than two months after he agreed to work with his long-time rival President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mr Odinga told his supporters they are now free to buy products from the four firms—which have been reluctant to disclose the impact of the boycott that was announced in November 7.

The opposition leader announced the boycott after Mr Kenyatta was declared President following the October 26 repeat election that NASA boycotted.

Mr Odinga claimed telecoms giant Safaricom, dairy products firm Brookside, consumer goods maker Haco and Bidco cooking oils benefited from ties to the government of Mr Kenyatta.

“Today I announce the end of the boycott of products from Safaricom, Bidco, Brookside and Haco. Our supporters can now feel free to use the products from the companies we had asked them to boycott last year,’ said Mr Odinga during Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park.

Mr Kenyatta did not attend the event.

The boycott was part of the National Resistance Movement to protest the outcome of the repeat election, which was ordered by the Supreme Court after it annulled the results of an August 8 poll over procedural irregularities.

READ: Kenya's opposition calls for boycott of Safaricom, Brookside

Mr Kenyatta won a second, five-year term with 98 per cent of the vote after Mr Odinga boycotted the contest. Only 39 per cent of registered voters took part.

The two leaders have agreed to a partnership that was highlighted with a surprise handshake on March 9 after weeks of secret talks.

They said their reconciliation would mean an end to the violence, bitterness and political instability that followed last year’s elections.

Safaricom was targeted because it had helped transmit election results. Brookside Dairy is jointly owned by Kenyatta’s family and French dairy giant Danone while Haco is owned by Chris Kirubi—a supporter of Mr Kenyatta.

On Tuesday, the firms remained guarded on the impact of the boycott on their businesses.

“It will be premature for me to make a comment because I have been away,” Joseph Ogutu, strategy director at Safaricom.