By Mutuku Mwangangi and Luke Awich
Divisions within the Opposition have heightened after some close allies of the coalition principals questioned their sincerity towards the process of fielding a single candidate.
Speaking during a fundraiser at AIC Bomani Machakos yesterday, Senator Johnstone Muthama, a close ally of Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, said the three Cord principals had deserted the coalition and were instead campaigning for their respective parties.
As the leaders spoke, Cord leader Raila Odinga denied claims that he is shopping for somebody outside the coalition to face President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 2017 General Election.
Through his spokesperson Dennis Onyango, Raila denied claims that he is looking for a candidate outside the Opposition formation to support in next year’s elections.
“Raila wishes to clarify that his stance on the Cord flag bearer for the 2017 presidential ticket remains that the candidate emerges from laid down procedures and that will safeguard the coalition’s supporters and its leaders and not imposition of individuals,” said Onyango in a statement to newsrooms.
There have been speculations linking Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi to a surprise move by Cord to pick him as its candidate.
In Machakos, Muthama hit at the principals, who include Kalonzo, Raila and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula whom he said have been campaigning throughout the country as the preferred candidate and yet the decision on who will bear the flag will be made by the Elections Board.
Muthama who is the board’s co chairperson, said as representatives of the coalition supporters, the board will carry out that process of picking the flag bearer. “I urge the Cord principals to stop drumming up for themselves for the actions may divide our supporters and this should end from today henceforth,” Muthama said.
Addressing the congregation, Siaya Senator James Orengo drummed up support for Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka terming him as God-fearing and experienced leader the country should celebrate. “Without any fear of contradiction whatsoever, I want to state that the most celebrated God-fearing politician this country has is Kalonzo Musyoka,” he said.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed echoed similar sentiments saying Kalonzo is the best candidate but urged Cord supporters to give Raila a chance to try his last luck in Kenya’s top seat that he has been chasing for many years.
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