Kalonzo Musyoka to roll out 2017 presidential plan

Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka has announced plans to roll out his presidential bid ahead of the 2017 General Election.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) co-principal exuded confidence in winning the country’s presidency saying he will be crisscrossing the county to popularise his candidature.

“I will be coming to your places very soon as I roll out my presidential plan, you play a vital role as our ambassadors at the grassroots which we really appreciate,” Kalonzo told Wiper county coordinators in Machakos on Monday.

Kalonzo reiterated his earlier demand for the removal of the registrar of persons whom he said had reached the retirement age but has been retained by the Jubilee administration in unclear circumstances.

He said the continued stay in office of the officer is a Jubilee strategy to rig the elections by frustrating the issuance of identity cards and eventually voters.

Last week, Kalonzo met Wiper leaders to chart the way forward and mull over the strategy to be used in the 2017 elections.

The Wiper leader was accompanied by the party’s Secretary General Senator Hassan Omar, Organising Secretary Robert Mbui and Deputy Secretary General Senator Judith Sijeny.

In his address, Senator Omar encouraged Wiper leaders to be steadfast saying the party will produce a presidential candidate in 2017 and “the next president of this country.”

Last year, Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula, who is also a CORD co-principal, received the endorsement of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) to run for the presidency in 2017.

The party council said it believed that Wetangula had the ability to provide the transformational leadership that Kenya needs.

CORD leader Raila Odinga has also showed indications that he will vie for the presidency in 2017, creating a blurred scape on whether the announcement by his co-principals is an expression of democracy in the coalition or just a political stratagem.

Despite their varied interests, the three principals have in several instances ruled out a fallout in the coalition saying they will pick one candidate among them who will run for the top job.

As CORD grapples among themselves on who will be the coalition’s flag bearer, their direct challengers Jubilee have clearly stated that they will support President Uhuru Kenyatta in his bid for a second term.

President Kenyatta is set to run for the presidency on the newly formed Jubilee Party ticket in the 2017 General Election with his deputy William Ruto also expressing a desire to vie for the presidency in the 2022 General Election with the same party.

@benjaminwafula