Inside Politics

Bomas event turns to burial venue of nascent OKA outfit

Monday, January 24th, 2022 03:00 | By
PHOTO/COURTESY

An event to coronate Amani National Congress (ANC) chief Musalia Mudavadi yesterday turned into the burial venue for the One Kenya Alliance(OKA).

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kanu chairman Gideon Moi and Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo walked out of the Mudavadi’s presidential campaign launch.

The trio who had attended the launch at the Bomas of Kenya stormed out of the venue in protest, as soon as United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders associated with Deputy President (DP) William Ruto walked in.

Businessman Jimi Wanjigi who is eyeing the Orange party ticket also joined the trio in walking out of the ‘Earthquake’ meeting.

The presence of UDA allied leaders at the event could mark the final death of the nascent alliance, which has been struggling for identity.

During the ANC delegates conference, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa arrived at the venue clad in a shirt bearing the logos of UDA and ANC, suggesting that the two sides have been in negotiations that could culminate in a coalition between them.

But yesterday evening, in a statement immediately after Mudavadi had made his speech, the principals said ‘it is time to end the nasty political games’.

“We (OKA) have today walked out of Mudavadi’s ‘earthquake’ meeting. Our principals out of respect honoured his invitation as a co-principal to attend the Bomas event and congratulated him for being nominated by his party to go and look for more friends,” said OKA Spokespersons Fredrick Okang’o.

According to Okang’o, the two OKA principals have to part ways since some of their friends were not their friends.

Nyaribo who is the only governor elected through the ANC ticket, yesterday said that he was not ready to share a political platform with Ruto.

“If I could have allowed myself to sit in the same meeting with Ruto, I could have sacrificed my political integrity because I don’t believe in Ruto’s political ideologies,” he said on phone.

“I have a lot of respect for my party leader Mudavadi but I beg to differ with him when leading the party in making a political coalition with Ruto’s UDA party,” he remarked.

Borabu MP Ben Momanyi said that ‘Tangatanga’ has never been part of OKA agenda.

“I thank Kalonzo for making a bold decision to walk out of Bomas, thus avoiding embarrassment. Mudavadi should learn to be honest. You can work with DP Ruto without necessarily subjecting us to ridicule,” said Momanyi.

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