NASA leaders speak out for the first time since swearing in

National Super Alliance leaders on Thursday came out to present a united front amid a perceived fall out among the co-principals over the ‘swearing in’ of opposition chief Raila Odinga as the ‘people’s president.’

Appearing in public together for the first time since the controversial ‘oathing,’ the four NASA co-principals said they are strongly united, despite three of them skipping the grand event to much disappointment from their supporters.

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka who was supposed to be sworn in as the ‘People’s deputy president’ claimed that from the onset, the coalition had planned to have Odinga take the oath alone on the d-day.

“Raila Odinga offered to say ‘you are my deputy’ but I want to start this thing, therefore, I will swear in before you. We were with Wetangula at the time and Mudavadi was on his way to join us. This was well organized and even if we had ended up together at Uhuru Park, Odinga would have taken the oath alone minus his deputy,” said Kalonzo.

Kalonzo, on why he, Mudavadi and Wetangula gave the event a wide berth, reiterated his earlier stand that they were under house arrest, a position the police have since dismissed.

“Technically we were under house arrest… How would you explain situations where you are leaving your house and GSU land rovers and lorries are ferrying away the only security you have and a day after, you are attacked? ” Musyoka posed.

Calling on their supporters to remain united, Mr. Odinga reiterated that the coalition is united, dismissing reports of a fallout in the coalition as a creation by the media.

“We are going to remain together as NASA as you can see us here. The so called division in NASA is an invention of the media. I did say to the public that these gentlemen will explain to the people why they were not there and they have explained. We shall remain united,” said Odinga.

The opposition chief took a swipe at the government, accusing the Jubilee administration of taking the country back to the dictatorial days.

“The attack on the media, the arbitrary arrests of individuals, intimidation of the Judiciary, divide and rule tactics… KANU is back. KANU is back with a force and by a new name. We must fight this,” said Odinga.

“The Jubilee regime is certainly mad. How else do you explain what has happened to the media fraternity since Monday up to today… That a minister can wake up and say the media disobeyed an order and as a result of that they are punished and as investigations are ongoing, the media will be off air.

“The government has suspended the operations of the Constitution yet they have not gone to parliament to get permission to declare a state of emergency. Who has given Mr. Matiangi those powers?” posed Odinga.

The opposition leaders reiterated that they will not be intimidated by the government, with Mr. Musyoka going biblical to cite Isaiah 54: 17: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.”