Why Kalonzo Musyoka skipped Nasa 'swearing-in' ceremony
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who was supposed to be sworn in as Raila Odinga's deputy but did not show up for the ceremony. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Wiper leader says he was unable to go to Uhuru Park because his security personnel was withdrawn by the government.
National Super Alliance (Nasa) co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka on Tuesday night attributed his no-show at Uhuru Park for the opposition’s planned 'inauguration' to the withdrawal of his security detail.
His explanation, in an audio recording circulated via WhatsApp, could however lead to more confusion around his failure to attend the event as he suggests that he, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula were blocked from attending.
SECURITY
In the recording in Kiswahili, Mr Musyoka says he was unable to be at Uhuru Park “for reasons that we now understand”.
“When we met last night, Hon Raila saw it fit that he does not spend the night at his home. I decided to spend the night at my home and that was the arrangement we reached,” he said.
He added that the policemen who comprise his security detail, at his Karen and Tseikuru homes as well as the ones who accompany him, had been withdrawn in the morning and said that they would be sacked if they accompany him on Tuesday.
“I was left alone. I stayed (at home) until about 11am, and that is the time journalists came to my home. I left. We had spoken on phone with Hon Raila, Wetang’ula and Mudavadi to plan our journey to Uhuru Park. We did not get there. We found ourselves, Wetang’ula, Mudavadi and I, because we did not have bodyguards, unable to leave the room. That is what happened,” he said.
It is not yet clear where the trio was holed up at the time the brief ceremony was taking place at Uhuru Park, with Wiper MPs conspicuously absent.
Mr Musyoka did not say where he had been at the time of the ceremony at Uhuru Park and what prevented them from making their way to the venue.
He said he was ready to be sworn in as earlier planned.
“For now, I urge those spreading information on the networks not to do anything that would bring disharmony in Nasa. We, the four principals, remain strong and united,” he said.
Shortly after the ceremony, the trio sent a statement to newsrooms saying they were unable to meet with Mr Odinga as planned on Tuesday “due to circumstances beyond our comprehension and control.”
They however said Nasa remained strong and united and that the principals would meet within two days “to address the immense challenges facing this country.”
Mr Musyoka’s home is currently being treated as a crime scene after reports that a grenade was hurled into the compound in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Senior police officers are at the home in Karen.
