Wetangula blames Odinga as Ford-Kenya leaves NASA

FORD-Kenya Party leader Moses Wetangula has officially announced the party’s exit from the National Super Alliance (NASA) opposition coalition.

Speaking to the press on Monday after a meeting with the party’s membership in Mtwapa, Kilifi County, Wetangula cited betrayal of the coalition by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga as reason for the exit.

The Bungoma Senator added that the party deemed it fit to exit the coalition after Odinga’s perceived unity pact with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“In my view, NASA is now a moribund organization. NASA is history. We were in NASA as FORD-Kenya in a coalition of the willing, we suffered a massive betrayal by our presidential candidate and as a party we are now focused on how to strengthen our grassroots support and to strengthen our national appeal,” said the Bungoma Senator, who was a NASA co-principal.

Wetangula further stated that FORD-Kenya would conduct its own grassroots campaigns in readiness for the 2022 General Election, saying he is set to vie for the presidential seat.

“I lead a party that has a history and has fought so hard to level the playing field in this country. I am a presidential candidate and my party has endorsed me for the seat,” said Wetangula.

He also lauded former US President Barack Obama’s visit of the country. He, however, accused Obama of not pushing for any development in Kenya when he was still in power.

The NASA coalition was left in a limbo after President Kenyatta and Mr. Odinga signed a peace deal on March 9 this year.

After the unity pact was unveiled, NASA co-principals Wetangula, Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper Party and ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi criticised Mr. Odinga accusing him of sidelining them.