Ngilu accuses alliance of betrayal

Water minister Charity Ngilu has explained why she turned her back on the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord), accusing leaders Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka of betrayal. (Read: Ngilu ditches Cord for Jubilee alliance)

Ms Ngilu on Monday urged Narc supporters to be patient as she negotiated a deal with the Jubilee Alliance. She said the deal with Mr Uhuru Kenyatta of TNA, Mr William Ruto of URP and Mr Musalia Mudavadi of UDF offered richer pickings than the Cord proposal.

Addressing a party county convention in Makueni County, Ms Ngilu explained that she defected from the ODM/Wiper/Ford Kenya coalition because she could not commit the party to an empty deal.

“I had no choice but to walk out because Narc was being equated to small parties who do not have elected MPs in Parliament,” she said at the Kusyombuguo Hotel.

The minister said in Jubilee, she would be a principal and a co-signatory with Mr Kenyatta, Mr Ruto and Mr Mudavadi.

“We agreed that with the exception of Mr Ruto, who retains the running mate slot, I will contest the presidential nomination with Mr Kenyatta and Mr Mudavadi before agreeing on how to share government posts,” she said.

“The new pact offers Narc a far better deal that the one offered by Cord because we’ll share positions on the basis of party strength,” she said.

The Narc leader will hold a similar convention in Kitui on Tuesday before heading to Machakos on Thursday.

Her mission is to convince Ukambani region to rally behind the Jubilee coalition’s flag bearer amid a growing rebellion from party aspirants over her perceived lack of consistency in forging political alliances.

Aspirants who had shown interest in running on her party ticket are now threatening to jump ship.

Ms Winnie Kitetu and Ms Peace Mulu, who are running for women representative in Kitui, said the minister’s back and forth deal making with rival coalitions had diminished the party’s credibility and made her appear untrustworthy.

“Our supporters are confused and have lost hope in the party because they don’t know where they belong” Ms Kitetu said.