Cracks in NASA as Wiper suspends People’s Assembly forum

Wiper Democratic Movement has put off a planned People’s Assembly forum that had been scheduled by NASA affiliate parties to take place in Machakos on Sunday, January 14.

The Kalonzo Musyoka-led party made the move following an unresolved dispute with Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over the sharing of parliamentary leadership slots.

In a meeting chaired by Mr. Musyoka, Wiper’s National Executive Council on Wednesday resolved to put off the People’s Assembly forum until the disagreement, which could put in disarray plans to swear in NASA leader Raila Odinga as the “People’s president”.

“There has been some disquiet about the sharing of House Committee positions and we have asked our party leader at the summit to talk about this issue which is not a light matter. There was an agreement between the principals about how those seats were going to be shared so that there is equity in the coalition,” said Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, who is Wiper Party chairman.

Sources say that during the meeting, the leaders took issue with what they termed as unfair sharing of House leadership slots within NASA.

“We have tentatively resolved to have the dates changed from this Sunday and we shall be having it done on the 19th,” said Kibwana. “We have agreed that the Ukambani governors; myself, Charity Ngilu and Wavinya Ndeti will meet so that we can arrange how the people’s assembly of lower eastern will happen.”

Wiper’s move is likely to slow down the push to swear in Odinga and Musyoka at the end of the month as the Machakos forum was part of a series of events in NASA’s action plan, that would culminate to the “inauguration” ceremony at Uhuru Park, Nairobi.

Those present at the Wiper meeting reportedly asked Musyoka to demand the replacement of Suna-East MP Junet Mohamed of ODM as the Minority Chief Whip. The Wiper leaders want the position given to Kathiani legislator Robert Mbui, whom they say was supposed to take up the Chief Whip position.

The party further reiterated its position on dialogue, resolving to have Kalonzo Musyoka take the front line in pushing for talks with the government.