Kalonzo negotiated with Uhuru, not Raila – Elachi on running mate stalemate
Former Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi has come out to weigh in on the current stalemate that has rocked the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition regarding the right candidate to deputize its presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga in the coming election.
Her statement comes at a time when Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has demanded to be named Raila's running mate or he walks out of the coalition. According to him, getting a running mate slot is the only reward he can get for supporting Raila's presidential bid at the expense of his political ambitions.
“Let me tell you that I am tired of corruption, manipulation, deceit, and self-interest. What else can a man do beyond saying my brother Raila Odinga tosha mara ya tatu? What else am I supposed to give? Give my neck?" Musyoka said over the weekend.
“Can you imagine a better ticket than the one that according to us won twice? So why do you want my brother Raila to end up being President and his running mate for the last two elections is out?” he added.
Elachi, however, holds a different opinion noting that it is unfair for the former Vice President to demand a running mate from Raila yet he did not get into a coalition partnership with the ODM boss.
The former City Speaker argued that Kalonzo entered into a coalition agreement with President Uhuru Kenyatta and therefore it would only be fair to direct his demands to the Head of State and not Raila.
"He (Kalonzo) said that he can't negotiate with the former Prime Minister and so he went to negotiate with the president. So, what is this agreement that he had with the president? Because now you are dragging Raila into what he was never part of," Elachi said.
She, therefore, challenged Kalonzo to stand by his word and support Raila unconditionally and became a team leader within the Azimo camp.
Elachi, however, noted that Kalonzo is an integral part of the coalition and that should he opt to quit, Azimio is likely to lose the presidential election on August 9.
"Let us also guard ourselves with the words we use so that we don't create fear and mistrust among ourselves. For instance, when the vice president (Kalonzo) says that he can impeach and we have not yet reached there; it creates unnecessary tension.
"We will lose if Kalonzo continues making the sentiment he has been making," she said.
