Aspirants explain scramble for alliances ahead of polls

Presidential aspirants have came out to explain their alliance building forays ahead of the next election.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Trade Minister Moses Wetang’ula and Lugari lawmaker Cyrus Jirongo said their aim was to promote unity.

Mr Mudavadi, the UDF presidential aspirant, said his weekend meeting with fellow State House hopefuls, Mr Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) and Mr Jirongo (Federal Party of Kenya) has caused panic.

The three flew to the Mara Serena Lodge in Narok County for talks convened by Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli. (READ: Top seat aspirants fly to Mara for unity talks)

“The meeting appears to have caused a lot of panic and I don’t know why. The issue of anyone dropping their presidential bid cannot arise at this stage. We just started talks and hope to meet again soon,” Mr Mudavadi said.

Mr Wetang’ula confirmed that another meeting would be held when Mr Atwoli returned from a conference in Ghana. He dismissed reports that he and Mr Jirongo had been asked to drop their bids.

Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa, who has declared he will run for the top seat on a New Ford Kenya ticket, skipped the meeting even though he was invited.

Mr Atwoli also rubbished reports that the meeting tried to persuade Mr Wetang’ula and Mr Jirongo to drop their bids. “This was a consultative meeting to see if the leaders can work together,” he said.

Mr Ruto, in a morning interview on Kass FM, defended moves to reach out to other aspirants, among them Prime Minister Raila Odinga, arguing it was for the good of the community.

“The Kalenjin vote alone will not take me to State House. We should accommodate other communities. I have to talk to my rivals. Alliances are the way to go as no one will make it alone in the first round,” Mr Ruto said.