20 MPs ‘still willing to quit for Kalonzo’

About 20 legislators were willing to resign to pave the way for former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to return to Parliament, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama maintained on Monday.

Mr Muthama denied that talks on who should resign to pave the way for either Mr Musyoka or former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had collapsed, but instead blamed Mr Musyoka for dilly-dallying over his next move.

“Muthama has never issued a statement stating that discussions on who should resign have failed. It is a total lie,” he told reporters in Nairobi on Monday.

“I was first to suggest that the Cord presidential candidate and his running mate should get back to Parliament because they need a platform. Right now, we have not less than 20 legislators willing to resign for them. There is no intimidation and there is no pushing whatsoever,” he added.

Mr Muthama noted that there was nothing strange in the move to have the two back in Parliament because, historically, leaders who fail to clinch the presidency have always been nominated.

He also referred to Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta who got into Parliament after one of Kanu MPs resigned his seat, paving the way for him to be become the Prime Minister in 1963. The late Jaramogi Oginga and former president Mwai Kibaki remained MPs after losing their presidential bids.

Trigger by-election

The current Constitution bars presidential candidates from contesting parliamentary seats at the same time compared to the old constitution.

The Cord candidates can only get back to Parliament if an MP resigns, triggering a by-election.

“If Kalonzo says he wants to get back to the Senate, I am out. If Raila says he wants to be in the Senate, am out. In fact my resignation statement is ready. What we are waiting for is for Kalonzo to declare his stand and there is nothing wrong with that.”