Kalonzo rejects call to be opposition leader

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has brushed off calls by a section of National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders urging him to assume the position of opposition leader which they say has been abandoned by Raila Odinga.

The NASA leaders were speaking at a church service in Athi River, Machakos County, where they termed Odinga as having been ‘compromised’ following the handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

They noted that Mr. Odinga has been silent since the March 9 handshake, adding that the country cannot progress when a government is not put in check.

“When the noisiest dog is silent, then it must be chewing the biggest bone. Our Army General was not killed on the war but fell on the way, we must soldier on,” said Ford-Kenya Party leader, Senator Moses Wetangula.

Lugari MP Ayub Savula, who doubles as ANC party leader, called on Kalonzo to immediately assume the office of the opposition leader and help in checking the government.

“Raila cannot check the Government he is dining with… Kalonzo should assume that position backed by Musalia and Wetangula,” said Savula.

Kalonzo, however, downplayed the calls and instead urged Kenyans to be patient with the ongoing efforts by President Kenyatta and Mr. Odinga to reunite the country.

“The unity of Raila and Uhuru does not mean that opposition is dead, I see no problem with taking over as opposition leader but we need to be patient first,” said Kalonzo.

The former vice president called for an all inclusive dialogue, further downplaying the need for the recently gazetted 14-member dialogue team.

“What Kenya wants is electoral justice, unless we fight tribalism, Kenya will not be the same again,” he said.

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi reiterated his earlier sentiments that Kenyatta-Odinga Building Bridges Initiative is not all inclusive.

“Our position remains that we want a genuine national dialogue which will end electoral injustice in this country,” said Mudavadi.

The ANC party leader said the team tasked with building bridges will not touch on electoral justice which, he said, was the root of division in the country.

Mudavadi called on  President Kenyatta to dismantle all cartels looting public coffers, saying that the masters of corruption should be investigated.

Also present at the service was Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, Lugari MP Ayub Savula, Matungulu MP Stephen Mutinda Mule, Mavoko legislator Patrick Makau and Makueni County Woman Representative Rose Museo.

On his part, Mr. Muthama said as members of the opposition, they would not sit back and watch the country sink in the sea of corruption.

“When a Uhuru leaves behind Kalonzo, Wetangula and Mudavadi, that does not qualify to be a route to National healing. The country of 43 tribes cannot be united by two people,” said Muthama.

He urged the three NASA chiefs to immediately consider folding their parties and register one political outfit.