The Wiper Party is on its way out of Cord, according to three Ukambani legislators. This follows Coalition leader Raila Odinga assertion that an agreement struck with its leader Kalonzo Musyoka is no longer valid.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Mwingi Central MP Joe Mutambu with Munyao Kisoi (Mbooni) and Richard Makenga (Kaiti), said the marriage between the Wiper Party and Cord had collapsed.
“This is the party position and it will soon be made public. We are not flower girls and the assertion by the coalition leader has showed clearly that we are not part of its future plans, declared the MPs. Speaking during an interview by one of the local TV stations, Raila said the contentious MoU was no longer binding because he did not win the presidency.
The ODM leader explained that the agreement was for him to govern for one term and then hand over power to Kalonzo Musyoka in the General Election due next year. In 2013, Raila was Cord’s presidential candidate and Kalonzo was his running mate, and the understanding, according to the former premier, was that had he become President, he would have endorsed his deputy to succeed him.
“We have not run the government yet and, therefore, there is nothing to hand over. It is an agreement which has been frustrated by circumstances,” said Raila, delving into the contentious MoU that has overshadowed discussions on the coalition’s presidential flag bearer.
Raila suggested that Cord should maintain the 2013 line-up for next year’s elections, which saw Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula assume the position of minority leader in the Senate as the coalition failed to secure the majority leader’s post.
“With Kalonzo, we showed in 2013 that we are a winning team. You do not change a winning team, you retain it, but the coach and the fans also have their right to express their opinion,” said Raila who added that all the three Cord principals were free to express their interest in flying the coalition’s flag.
However, the Wiper Party MPs begged to differ stopping short of calling the opposition leader dictatorial. “Cord belongs to ODM and in the Opposition Raila’s word is final, you question it at your own peril.
It is clear that the ODM leader cannot play second fiddle to any other person in the coalition,” said Mutambu. Kisoi said as a community, the Kamba had started the process of charting a different political path, “The train has already taken and there is no stopping.”
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