Wiper ‘given raw deal in coalition’

A partner in the CORD coalition has asked its counterpart for respect as an equal.

Wiper Democratic Movement party leadership in Mombasa County wants their ODM counterparts to respect them in the coalition family.

Members at a closed door meeting at Reef Hotel on Saturday, told party leader former vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka that although the ratio of leadership was 4:3, all county appointments went to ODM.

“We cannot accept to be treated as second fiddle when we won the Senator and two MPs seats while our partners won the governor and three MP positions,” the sources said.

The local leadership of Senator Hassan Omar, Nyali MP Hezron Awiti Bolo and Jomvu MP Badi Twalib came under attack for not representing the party interests at the county government that was awash with ODM leadership.

“All the appointments and nominations in Mombasa bear only one face of ODM while we control equal stakes in the county,” the source quoted a member as saying.

Before the media was ejected, Mr Awiti had claimed there was “discrimination” within county government dealings and asked his party leader to ensure equality prevailed.

“We are “corded” but our partners in ODM are treating us as lesser partners something we can’t accept,” he said and demanded equal representation at the national level.

It was at this point that Mr Musyoka realised the presence of media and he shot up saying they should leave the room to allow free interaction of leaders and grassroots members.

Emerging after two hours, Mr Musyoka said there was need for CORD coalition to look for ways of accommodating each other.