ODM dismisses Kalonzo bid to reconcile Raila, Wetang'ula

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has rubbished a fresh attempt by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to mend the “noisy and messy” divorce between its party leader Raila Odinga and Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula.

ODM chairman John Mbadi insisted that there was no dispute between the two parties, and so, the attempt by Mr Musyoka to “solve any issue does not arise.”

“There is nothing like reconciling. You are reconciling who and who? I do not see any issue here and, since we have not registered any dispute between us and Ford-Kenya, what then?” asked Mr Mbadi.

He argued: “All we did was that we asked Mr Wetang’ula to behave. It is him who made the unfortunate remarks about us.”

Mr Mbadi spoke on Tuesday just hours after pictures of Mr Musyoka and Mr Wetang’ula meeting at the Wiper offices in Nairobi emerged.

GOOD TALKING TERMS

A statement from Wiper party said Mr Musyoka promised to “continue to be the glue holding together the coalition and that he will spare no effort to keep his brothers in good talking terms for the prosperity and peace of the nation.”

ODM director of political affairs Opiyo Wandayi was more optimistic about the meeting.

“Any move by Mr Wetang’ula to retrace his steps is welcome. Nasa is a movement and it has got enough room for everybody. Nobody chased away anybody and anybody is free to make amends,” said Mr Wandayi, who is also the Ugunja MP.

WAR OF WORDS

Tuesday’s meeting came after last week’s war of words that saw Mr Wetang’ula declare Nasa a moribund organisation, even as he vowed never again to work with Mr Odinga politically.

The Bungoma senator argued that Mr Odinga was a serial party wrecker and was an untrustworthy politician who did not keep his word, comments that quickly drew the ire of ODM MPs.

The MPs asked Ford-Kenya MPs to relinquish parliamentary committee and leadership positions they hold by virtue of being members of Nasa.

“Ford Kenya and Wiper are parties that share similar ideas for the future of this great country; we remain committed and connected,” the statement quoted Mr Wetang’ula as having written in the visitors’ book.

But even as Wiper issued a statement saying the two party bosses discussed the unity of Nasa, Ford-Kenya deputy party leader Boni Khalwale was on twitter dismissing it as not being part of the agenda.

“Our party leader used the occasion to congratulate his host for their new offices. Our status in Nasa is known, and was not part of the agenda during the visit,” said Dr Khalwale.