Raila hints at a possible reunion of Nasa affiliates
Baraka Karama and Enock Amukhale
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader Raila Odinga has hinted to a possibility of a new coalition that will re- unite him with his former Nasa partners ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Nasa affiliate party leaders Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper, Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) resolved to officially exit the coalition.
The three leaders who have shown interest in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta resolved to leave the troubled union after special meetings with members of their National Executive Council (NECs).
The trio has since formed a new political alliance dubbed One Kenya Alliance (OKA) that has roped in Kanu chairman Gideon Moi.
ODM announced last week its decision to exit the four-year-old coalition. Party secretary Edwin Sifuna announced the decision saying they were on a mission of courting new political friends.
The party has been closely working with Jubilee leaders allied to the President.
Jubilee secretary Raphael Tuju has also indicated that were in talks with ODM over a possible merge later this year.
But Raila’s former allies led by Musalia Mudavadi, who ditched the coalition, accused him of dishonesty and failing to honour their pre-election pact.
Yesterday, however, Raila downplayed the exit, stating that the Nasa alliance had outlived its usefulness.
“Mumeona watu wakitoka kwa Nasa na hiyo siyo shida kubwa kwa sababu kazi ya Nasa ilikwisha,” (you have seen leaders leaving Nasa but that should not worry you because the reason why Nasa was formed has been overtaken by event,” Raila said.
Speaking in Vihiga during the burial of Vihiga deputy governor Patrick Saisi’s wife, Raila remained optimistic that he would still work with his former Nasa partners in the near future.
The ODM leader said the exit from Nasa by all the affiliate parties does not signal the end of the road for them, as there is still room for negotiations.
The former premier said that the exit of his former co-principal has not yet closed doors for fresh negotiations.
“It does not mean that we cannot work together in future just because they have left Nasa. There is still room for that and we can still work together,” the former premier stated.
Raila disclosed that One Kenya Alliance (OKA) leaders are among the individuals they will reach out to for a possible coalition at the end of ODM’s countrywide tours to meet her delegates on the way forward after Nasa exit.
He said that his party ODM will this week kick off the process to seek views from its supporters countrywide to pave the way for a new coalition with like-minded political parties.
He announced yesterday that the first delegate conference will be held in his Nyanza backyard where all the party governors, senators, women representatives, MCAs and youth leaders will attend to give their views.
Raila said a similar meeting will also be held in Kakamega on Saturday and thereafter they will proceed to Coast, North Eastern. Eastern, Central and Rift Valley.
He disclosed that ODM will pick 100 delegates from every region - Nyanza, Western, Coast, Mount Kenya, North Eastern Rift Valley among others for separate meetings to chart the way forward on how they will join a political coalition.
“During these meetings delegates will give their views and opinions which will be noted down and thereafter we shall make a decision on which coalition we are going to join hands with ahead of the elections,” he said.
Raila said that OKA leaders are among the political leaders they will reach to for a possible coalition after the delegates’ conference.
“Nobody has said that we cannot work together and we will also talk to OKA leaders after getting views from the delegates.”
A cross section of Musalia Mudavadi’s allies led by Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi and Vihiga County Women Representative Beatrice Adagala however dismissed Odinga’s statement terming him as “dishonest”.
Agoi said: “What we know is that next year the flag bearer is Mudavadi so if he wants to work with him again it’s only under one condition that supports him for the top seat.
Adagala said, “He has sensed defeat through OKA Alliance and that is why he wants to dupe them again... NASA is officially dead and for now we are focusing of OKA with Mudavadi as the flag bearer”.
Raila has not yet officially declared to make a fifth stab at the coveted presidential seat has been reaching out to leaders in the Mt Kenya region.
