NASA presidential candidate debate rages on as ODM insists on Raila

The issue of the opposition’s presidential candidate for the August 8 elections continues to rock the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition from within.

The debate rented air at an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party rally hosted by party leader Raila Odinga at Woodley Grounds in Kibera Nairobi.

The opposition leader’s lieutenants led by Mombasa County Governor Ali Hassan Joho, his Nairobi counterpart Evans Kidero and Former Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa reiterated their strong stance that Raila Odinga must be the presidential candidate for NASA.

Former mayor Aladwa said that Raila is the only one among the NASA co-principals capable of marshalling enough support across the country to dislodge Jubilee from power.

“We in ODM don’t know of anybody else. We know Raila Odinga as the only flag bearer for NASA,” said Aladwa.

His sentiments were echoed by Governor Joho who said that the entire coastal region has made a declaration to support Raila Odinga in his presidential quest.

Joho was, however, quick to point out that the other principals in the coalition; Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetangula (Ford-Kenya) and Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) must stick into the formation for Raila to win.

“We in ODM know who is our ‘Commander-in-Chief’ in NASA…but Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka must be with us,” said Joho.

The Mombasa County governor advised youths in Nairobi to form clubs that they would use to ensure that every youth casts a vote during the election day.

Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke, a close ally of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, sought to quell the debate by assuring the ODM brigade that Kalonzo is committed to NASA unity.

When he rose to the podium, Raila Odinga said that the party would embrace ‘adopting a polling station strategy’ whereby every polling station will be assigned 50 youth to guard the integrity of the poll.

Raila said that the strategy would help avert election-rigging attempts, insisting that he had won the 2013 contest.