Wiper loyalists demand Kalonzo candidature amid Cord ticket row

Major disagreements over whether or not ODM leader Raila Odinga should be the presidential flagbearer of his coalition in the next General Election are threatening to tear the opposition grouping apart.

Even as the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord), grapples with the fallout sparked by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s bid to be its presidential candidate, Wiper Democratic Party leaders have also staked a claim to the ticket.

A group of Wiper-affiliated leaders drawn from the Kamba counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni at the weekend said they would accept nothing short of former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s crowning as Cord’s presidential flagbearer in next year’s poll.

Kitui Governor Julius Malombe and Senators David Musila and Johnstone Muthama (Machakos) unanimously resolved that it was time for the Kamba to take over leadership.

Mr Musyoka, the Wiper party leader, sat quietly as some of his most ardent supporters called on Cord to allow him to challenge President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mr Musyoka and Ford-Kenya party leader Wetang’ula are Cord co-principals with Mr Odinga.

“The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy must allow Kalonzo to bear its presidential mantle in the next elections and we are not going to accept anything less,” said Governor Malombe.

He was speaking at the burial of Ms Ruth Mawia Nyenze, the mother of Kitui West MP and National Assembly Minority Leader Francis Nyenze, at their home in Mutanda Village, Kitui West Sub-County.

Senator Musila lamented the Kamba had been getting a raw deal from government after government, saying that time was ripe for the region to ascend to power. He added that the former vice-president was their best bet.

“We have suffered enough marginalisation as a community and we say enough is enough,” said Mr Musila. “We are still grappling with the same problems that have bedevilled our people since Independence.
“Most of our roads are dilapidated, besides poor educational facilities, but nobody seems to care.

“The power to change the status quo lies with us. Let us come out in large numbers to support our own son so that he can lead us from ‘Egypt to Canaan’. Continue registering as voters so as to strengthen our voting muscle and strengthen our political bargaining power.”

Should Cord decline to endorse the Wiper leader as its bona fide flagbearer, they would “sabotage the game”, said Mr Muthama in remarks, which could be interpreted as threats to defect from the coalition.

“The Kamba community has great potential to take this country by storm, only that they have not realised it,” he said, and announced to thunderous applause from the mourners: “We will not be cheated into supporting anybody other than our own this time round, and we mean business.”

Kitui Woman Representative Nyiva Mwendwa called upon Ukambani people to wake up from their political slumber and give the country’s top seat their best shot.

“You underestimate your potency to influence Kenya’s top leadership,” said Ms Mwendwa. “I beseech you to rally behind Kalonzo Musyoka in his presidential bid as he is not only capable of winning but is also our only hope as a community.”

Their sentiments were echoed by MPs Makali Mulu (Kitui Central), Charles Nyamai (Kitui Rural), John Munuve (Mwingi North) and Daniel Maanzo (Makueni).

However, Mr Musyoka chose to steer clear of the leaders’ demands, only saying: “We have the ability to bring about the kind of change Kenyans yearn for.”

Contacted yesterday, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who is the ODM deputy party leader, and ODM Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba, warned that “evil” people were being used by detractors to create cracks in the coalition ahead of the elections.

The two spoke separately as the coalition’s management committee co-chairmen, Senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Mr Muthama, played down differences between Mr Oparanya and Mr Wetang’ula.

A top ODM official hinted at the possibility of Mr Odinga having washed his hands off the Bungoma Senator, whom the party believes has been waiting for an opportune moment to shift his political allegiance.

The party top brass has decided to prop up Mr Oparanya to take charge of not only Kakamega, but the entire western region in the fashion adopted by his Mombasa counterpart, Mr Ali Hassan Joho, at the Coast.

On Monday, Mr Oparanya accused Mr Wetang’ula of orchestrating a campaign to wreck the opposition and then join the ruling Jubilee side.

The battle between the two appeared to be geared towards protection of turf, with Mr Oparanya and Mr Namwamba saying they were enraged by the Ford-K campaigns against ODM in the western region.

“I take serious issue with Moses Wetangula’s weekend call to the Luhya community to join Ford- Kenya and reject any politician who is not in this party,” Mr Oparanya said and warned that the statement by the Bungoma senator went against the spirit of the coalition and raised questions about his commitment to it.

“As ODM deputy party leader, I wish to let Mr Wetang’ula know that it is the party with the largest following and highest number of elected leaders in western Kenya,” said Mr Oparanya. “It is a fact that Ford-Kenya has only three elected MPs in all of the former Western Province.

“There is a problem when big rivers begin to join small rivers.”

He said that in 2007, Mr Wetang’ula teamed up with Mt Kenya politicians when Mr Odinga’s victory was allegedly stolen.

His position was echoed by Mr Namwamba, who asked Mr Wetang’ula to respect the governor, warning that attempts to undermine him would not be acceptable in the coalition.

“Mr Oparanya is no ordinary governor in Cord. He is the deputy party leader. We will not allow individuals planning to take advantage of what is clearly a storm in a tea cup to spoil the coalition,” said Mr Namwamba.