Deputy post is okay for us – Wiper boss on NASA deal

The Wiper Democratic Party Secretary General and Mombasa Senator, Hassan Omar, has dismissed disunity reports in the Kalonzo Musyoka-led party after the unveiling of ODM’s Raila Odinga as the presidential candidate for the National Super Alliance (NASA).

Addressing a press conference in Nairobi on Sunday, April 30, Omar appealed to Wiper supporters in Ukambani region to drum up support for Raila-Kalonzo ticket saying that the party was sufficiently consulted before the final decision was reached.

The Mombasa County Senator expressed confidence that the Odinga candidature ‘’ill make a silver bullet that would deliver victory and eject President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto from power’.

He hailed Raila Odinga as a steadfast man who has worked selflessly towards the transformative agenda of the country.

Omar cautioned members against censoring the Raila candidature saying that doing so would jeopardize NASA’s chances of clinching the presidency on August 8.

He assured party followers that Raila, if successfully elected, will be a one term president after which he would relinquish the seat to another principal in the NASA coalition.

“If it is not Kalonzo at the moment, I believe it will be him in 2022. Neither Raila nor ODM will produce a presidential candidate in 2022, that is the agreement,” said Omar.

He faulted National Assembly Minority Leader, Francis Nyenze’s sentiments that Kalonzo, and by extension Wiper Party, were arm twisted by ODM in NASA power sharing deal.

Nyenze insisted that the negotiating team had agreed that Kalonzo becomes the flag bearer only to be  shortchanged in the last minute.

Nyenze opined that it would be hard for Wiper team in Ukambani region to sell a Raila candidature while all along the people had been convinced that Kalonzo would be the candidate.

Omar termed Nyenze’s remarks as a ‘fallacy’ saying that the thinking that a particular person must be the candidate for people of a certain region to support the ticket must be jettisoned.