Moses Kuria dismisses Raila, Mudavadi alliance ahead of polls

Gatundu South Member of Parliament, Moses Kuria, has downplayed the significance of a possible coalition that would bring together Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), led by Raila Odinga, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka, and Amani National Congress (ANC) leader, Musalia Mudavadi.

Talks of the new coalition, dubbed the National Super Alliance (Nasa), have thrived in the past months with Mudavadi leading the pursuit for a new political outfit that would unite all opposition parties to face Jubilee in the 2017 General Election.

In an interview with Citizen Digital on Monday, however, Kuria termed the move by the opposition as a mere political machination that will not have any impact on the 2017 General Election.

“The opposition alliance will have no implications in the 2017 elections because no key leaders have moved from Jubilee to join them,” said Kuria.

“What they have done is just consolidated their share of the 49% votes because the 51% that Jubilee got in the 2013 election is still intact.”

Speaking on Sunday, November 20 in Bomet, Mudavadi called on Kenyans to support Nasa saying it is the only force that would able to defeat Jubilee in the 2017 elections.

Despite big talk on the formation of the alliance, some leaders within CORD have openly expressed their unease with the new arrangement.

In a past interview Wiper leader and CORD co-principal, Kalonzo Musyoka, said that while he does not mind a new alliance, any new arrangements should be made with him in mind as the flag bearer.

Raila, Mudavadi, and Wetangula have also expressed their interest in being the opposition flag bearer raising doubts over the lineup for the new alliance.

“You see, the new composition will only complicate matters for them because already there is confusion over who will be their flag bearer. As Jubilee we are concerned because we already know who our presidential candidate and running mate will be.”

Procurement of ballot papers

The Jubilee legislator also weighed in on ODM’s concerns over IEBC’s move to award Dubai-based Al Ghurair printing firm Ksh 2.5 billion tender to supply ballot papers, saying such issues should have been raised earlier.

“The tender was advertised in June when CORD was busy pushing for the removal of IEBC commissioners.  Why has it taken them this long to protest the tendering process?”

“We have the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board that is mandated to deal with grievances from procurement processes and they should be allowed to do their job.”

He, however, said that Jubilee would not be bludgeoned into giving in into CORD’s demands over threats from the opposition coalition’s camp to boycott the elections, saying it is their Constitutional right to either participate or boycott the polls.

“If they decided not to participate we will go ahead with the plans and face of other presidential aspirants whose names will be on the ballot.”

On Sunday, ODM faulting IEBC for proceeding with the awarding the tender for procurement of ballot papers without confirmation of the number of registered voters, and waiting for new commissioners to be sworn in.

“Ballot boxes are produced against an estimated number of voters-with the voter register still open and a compulsory audit still on course which may even result in fresh voter registration, how did the commission estimate the number of voters?” Mohamed posed.

In response, IEBC CEO, Ezra Chiloba, defended the decision saying everything they have done is guided by the law.

Chiloba stated that they cannot wait for new commissioners for them to roll out elections preparation plans saying doing so would set them up for failure.