STANDARD] NAIROBI, KENYA: The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) is headed for more storms after two co-principals declared they are firmly in the race for the presidency, a week after former PM Raila Odinga, made remarks widely interpreted to suggest he would be the sole flag bearer for the coalition in 2017. Raila announced last Saturday, that he was the people’s choice to battle it out with President Kenyatta, who has already announced he will be seeking a second term in 2017. The statement was construed to imply Kalonzo and Wetang’ula had given Raila the all clear to be CORD’s flag-bearer, sparking sharp reactions. Former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Ford Kenya Leader Moses Wetang’ula cautioned the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership against rash utterances with the potential to wreck one of the most formidable political forces in the country at present. “Nobody can and has surrendered the ticket to Raila. We have not discussed the issue. I am firmly in the race and so is Kalonzo. When time comes, we shall go through the nomination and whoever gets the mantle will be supported by the losing aspirants,” Wetang’ula, the Bungoma Senator and Ford Kenya party leader, told The Standard on Saturday. Kalonzo, however, downplayed the issue. In a text message that suggested he is disenchanted with internal intrigues, the former vice-president quipped, “When did he (Raila) say and where?” OTHER TRIBES See Also: Were just pawns in Jubilee, CORD chessboard Kalonzo and Wetang’ula spoke to The Standard on Saturday just hours after they returned from a retreat in Ngoro Ngoro, Arusha, Tanzania. The former PM’s statement drew immediate criticism from within ODM, which is yet to recover from February 28, bungled party elections at Kasarani Stadium. The criticism was stoked further when ODM MPs from Nyanza vilified Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba a “mole” of the Jubilee government. The row has already created misgivings in CORD with MPs from Western region demanding for “respect” from their counterparts in Nyanza. The defiance persisted even after Raila met Namwamba on Wednesday. The latter met Wetang’ula the following day to discuss their status in the coalition. Wetang’ula would not confirm or deny whether they discussed Raila’s conduct. However, after the meeting, Namwamba tweeted a photo of him with the senator captioned: “With my big brother Senator Moses Weta this (Thursday) morning... keeping our eyes firmly on the goal, for country and community.” Ironically, on the day Raila declared he would run against Kenyatta, Wetang’ula was in neighbouring Busia County where, speaking in Luhyia, he told mourners the community would no longer play second fiddle to other tribes. The same sentiments were expressed on Wednesday by former Westlands MP Fred Gumo who accused Raila of “selfishness” and “dictatorship” in pursuit of power. As cracks began to appear in ODM and by extension CORD, Webuye East MP Alfred Sambu too, weighed in, drawing parallels between what is happening in ODM at present and the party’s presidential nomination in 2007. “Musalia Mudavadi and William Ruto were duped into sticking with Raila. It is a behaviour we have analysed closely and it is no surprise MPs from Western have been distancing themselves from parties where they are not accorded respect,” says Sambu.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 03:50:33 +0000
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