Revive Nasa? No, thanks, co-principals tell Raila

Two Nasa principals have rebuffed efforts by Opposition chief Raila Odinga to revamp the moribund outfit as part of preparations ahead of the 2022 General Election.

Instead, ANC Party leader, Musalia Mudavadi, and his Wiper counterpart, Kalonzo Musyoka, have decided to focus on strengthening their individual vehicles and leave their options on possible realignments open. This is despite meeting Mr Odinga three weeks ago to explore chances of reunion.

The forth principal and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula vacated the ship a while back when Senators stripped him off the minority leader position and replaced him with an Odinga ally James Orengo. He has since had no kind word for the ODM party leader promising a noisy and messy divorce. Yesterday, Mr Mudavadi did not mince his words about it when he addressed supporters in Kwale.

LAST NAIL

“How come when we voted for Raila to a man last year it was all okay but now when we present our tickets to Kenyans for the top seat, you hear someone arguing that we first put our house in order. Was is not in order when we voted last year?” he posed.

Mr Odinga’s revelation mid last week that the reason he didn’t involve his colleagues in his pact with President Uhuru Kenyatta was because they harbour presidential ambitions was the last nail on Nasa’s coffin, we gathered. Mr Musyoka and Mr Musalia argue that the primary basis of their alliance was to capture state power and for Mr Odinga to ‘turn his back on them’ just because they have their eyes on the 2022 is nothing short of shifting goalpost at a time he should rally behind one of them in the next polls. They have in the past accuse Mr Odinga of betrayal.

OWN PATH

Mr Musalia’s close allies such as Ayub Savula and Dan Ameyo are of the view that Nasa has outlived its usefulness and it was in his best interest to chart his own path.

It is the same case for Wiper where Mr Musyoka’s advisors are of the view that disengaging from Nasa will give him ample time and space to focus on his own brand given the fact that Mr Odinga is naturally a domineering figure. Wiper chairman Kivutha Kibwana and also the Makueni governor is on the record urging Mr Musyoka to forget the deal he entered into with Mr Odinga, saying the Opposition would be a formidable force even without him.

AGREEMENT

In the tacit agreement creating Nasa, Mr Odinga is said to have committed to support Mr Musyoka for the top seat in 2022. It was the same case in 2013 when they first formed Cord coalition but the fact that they did not win gave ODM a good ground ahead of presidential election last year to argue that the pact had in fact been overtaken by circumstances.

Mr Mudavadi’s sentiments come hot on the heels of related ones from Mr Musyoka who on Tuesday declared that he would no longer be walking under the shadow of Mr Odinga. Mr Musyoka who spoke in Kitui during the opening of a boutique hotel owner by renowned law scholar Makau Mutua said, “We will not take it easy anymore, not anymore.” Mr Odinga attended.

CAMPAIGNS

The Nasa trio has yet to forgive Mr Odinga for unilaterally entering into a pact with Mr Kenyatta, their bitter rival in the August presidential poll whose outcome was voided by the Supreme Court on grounds of irregularities. While Mr Musyoka has had a bit of a climb down, even nominating Makueni Woman Representative Rose Museo to represent him in the Building the Bridges Committee, a product of the Kenyatta-Raila handshake co-chaired by Ambassador Martin Kimani and Lawyer Paul Mwangi, Mr Mudavadi still has strong reservations although he says he is for national reconciliation.

Mr Odinga unexpectedly appeared at the Harambee House, Mr Kenyatta’s office on March 9 and together with President Kenyatta addressed the nation on their new-found working pact. It was a surprise move that has helped calmed the country after a protracted campaigns last year but sounded the death knell for the opposition coalition. Mr Kenyatta has had it easy since and his handlers say he can now concentrate on his legacy projects.

Aware that the focus had shifted to individual parties after he embraced the president, Mr Odinga has also embarked on revitalizing his ODM party. He is currently on a week-long tour of the country to meet grass root leaders.

STRONGHOLDS

He however maintains that Nasa was alive and kicking and that ‘the small fights between Nasa principals are just like a family fighting where everyone is fighting for salt but in the end they sit around the same table to talk".

Disintegration of Nasa could also be a blessing for the Deputy President William Ruto who is already working hard to assert control over its strongholds in the last elections such as Coast and Western. Mr Ruto is aware that an existing strong outfit will offer him more resistance.

Word has it that the DP is already working with Mr Wetang’ula to consolidate western support and this is partly explained by the fact that the proposed merger of Mr Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya and ANC has run into headwinds.