OKA yet to sign pact over ‘legal issues’
One Kenya Alliance (OKA) brigade yesterday failed to sign a coalition agreement even as a section politicians criticised Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for conditions he has issued for him to join Azimio La Umoja movement.
Kalonzo, Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, Kanu’s Gideon Moi and Cyrus Jirongo (UDP) have, however, maintained that they were committed to “structured negotiations’. But their new partners said the leaders postponed the signing to address “some legal issues.”
“We will continue to insist on structured dialogue amongst ourselves and with other like-minded coalitions that will be honest, open and transparent,” Kalonzo said in a statement.
“Respectively thus I, we wish to assure Kenyans that the OKA constituent parties - Wiper, Kanu, Narc-K and UDP - are still interrogating the binding legal documents. We expect that the coalition agreement will be signed early next week,” he added.
The three groups, however, seem to have locked out Moses Kuria of Chama Cha Kazi, who last week announced that he was not keen to join Azimio. “We were to sign our coalition agreement today but we have postponed to polish certain legal issues that have arisen,” said Karua.
“We still are open to receive other parties that we are talking to, into the OKA coalition and to building coalition with other Kenyans so that we can achieve our objective of being able to form government, alone or with others in order to fulfill the urgent needs of Kenyans,” she said.
The leaders made the statement even as Kalonzo faced criticism over his demands that talks on any coalition with Azimio leader Raila Odinga must be based on their 2017 press-election agreement.
In the 2017 agreement under the National Super Alliance (Nasa) umbrella, Raila had promised to back Kalonzo, who was his running mate in the August General Election. But Kalonzo’s critics yesterday maintained that Nasa was dead and that the Wiper leader cannot resurrect a deal from a non-existent entity for coalition negotiations.
Dead horse
“With greatest respect to H.E Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, introducing Nasa issues in the Azimio engagement is tantamount to flogging a dead horse. All Kenyans are aware that Nasa died, was buried and a death certificate was issued by the Registrar of Political Parties,” said Narc leader Charity Ngilu and Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa in a statement.
Speaking in Kisumu, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o advised Kalonzo against giving Raila conditions. Nyong’o, a member of the Raila campaign elections board, told the former Vice President to put the interest of the country first ahead of his own. “My good friend Kalonzo must underscore the importance of patriotism and put the interest of the country first before his personal interest,’’ said Nyong’o.
The county boss said some Kenyan leaders like Raila had sacrificed their interests in power, through Handshake for the sake of national unity and stability
But separately in Nyamira and Kisii, the Kenya Kwanza team, led by Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula warned Kalonzo to resist calls to work with Raila.
Wetang’ula termed Raila as a political betrayer, who cannot be trusted with other leaders on formation of political coalitions.. “I am asking my brother Kalonzo to take a firm political stand by rejecting calls to join the Raila political bandwagon, which has twice frustrated and short-changed his leadership alongside former Nasa leaders,” the senator said.
Selfish politician
Speaking at Getari trading center in West Mugirango, Wetang’ula said Raila was a selfish politician, who cannot be entrusted with the country’s leadership.
He also tore into President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership, saying he has lost political direction by actively participating in succession politics, a time he is supposed to unite the country and retire peacefully .
“I am pleading with President Uhuru to stop campaigning for Raila but instead resort to taking much of his time thanking Kenyans for giving him a 10-year term,” he added .
Other leaders who accompanied Wetang’ula were MPs Vincent Kemosi (West Mugirango), Shadrak Mose (Kitutu Masaba), Joash Nyamoko (North Mugirango),Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai), Silvanus Osoro (South Mugirango) and Tharaka Nthi Senator Prof Kithuri Kindiki.
Kindiki asked the people of Nyamira and Kenya as a whole to reject leaders who were being imposed them.
“As Kenyans, we should be given humble time so that we can elect leaders of our own but not those being imposed on us like Raila,” Kindiki added .
Reports by Eric Wainaina, Evans Nyakundi, Robert Ochoro and Kepher Otieno
