Kinyuru Munuhe and Mutuku Mwangangi @PeopleDailyKe
Cord co-principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula are scheduled to meet this week to agree on how to elect the coalition’s presidential flag-bearer ahead of 2017.
The meeting comes amid claims of widening rift among coalition partners over whether to dissolve the affiliate parties and become one political entity.
Wetang’ula (Bungoma senator and Ford Kenya party leader) yesterday said Cord is intact, dismissing claims of disquiet and possible collapse. He said the co-principals will jointly field one candidate in next year’s elections.
“As Cord, we will have a meeting next week. The three of us have equal opportunity to make a difference in this country. If we agree it is Kalonzo, we will support him, if we agree it is Raila, we will support him and if we agree it is Wetang’ula I will be even happier,” he said during a fund-raising at Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church in Shauri Moyo, Nairobi.
Nairobi ODM chairman George Aladwa called for the three to agree on one candidate to kick off campaigns in earnest. “We do not want Cord to disintegrate. We urge you (Wetang’ula), Raila and Kalonzo to agree who will take the mantle.
We will support whoever the three of you will settle on,” he said. Although Raila , Wetang’ula and Kalonzo insist the coalition is unified, their lieutenants have publicly issued ultimatums to have either of them as the presidential candidate.
Kalonzo and Wetang’ula have even challenged Raila to step down for them and instead be a kingmaker. However, in a move likely to spark discontent, the Ford Kenya party leader said they will share electoral seats within the coalition partners to field candidates for Nairobi seats.
While questioning the source of Sh18 million Deputy President William Ruto donated last weekend during a funds-drive in Western Kenya, Wetang’ula said he wants the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to summon the DP to explain where he got his wealth.
“The challenge is now to the EACC to summon the Deputy President to explain his source of wealth. We know he earns Sh1.2 million a month and the other day, he spent Sh18 million in one weekend,” said Wetang’ula.
Meanwhile, four Wiper party MPs have issued a 30-day ultimatum to Kalonzo to convene a regional leaders’ meeting to discuss the political destiny of the community ahead of 2017.
MPs Francis Mwangangi (Yatta), Joe Mutambu (Mwinge Central), Richard Makenga (Kaiti) and Michael Kisoi(Mbooni) said they feel as if the perceived Kamba kingpin is misleading the community. In what was dubbed the ‘Matuu Declaration’, the four said they will not sit back and watch as the community continues being left behind in development.
They said if Kalonzo does not address the issue, they would make a declaration on behalf of the community. “The appeal to convene the meeting goes directly to those who purport to be leaders of this community, precisely Kalonzo Musyoka, failure to which we shall show our people the proper direction”, said Kisoi. The four said if their demands are not met, they will openly popularise Jubilee Party’s agenda in Ukambani.
The post Cord leaders meet over flag-bearer, defection crises appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.