Wiper to leave NASA if Kalonzo not named candidate in seven days

Wiper Party has given the National Super Alliance a seven-day ultimatum to name its party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, as the presidential flag-bearer failure to which they will abandon the united opposition outfit.

Speaking after Wiper National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting  in Nairobi on Wednesday, March 29, National Assembly Minority Leader, Francis Nyenze, said Kalonzo will not accept running mate or any other position in NASA ahead of the August 8 election.

Nyenze, who represents Wiper in NASA coordinating committee,  now wants the opposition coalition to honour the 2013 Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) MOU signed between Kalonzo and ODM leader, Raila Odinga, failure to which Kalonzo will run for president alone through his party.

Nyenze, a key ally of Kalonzo, said NASA risks turning into a ‘Nyanza Super Alliance’ should Wiper bolt.

“If the National Coordinating Committee is not called this week, after next week we will not be available to attend their meetings. We must meet at a central place not at somebody’s office,” said the Kitui West Member of Parliament.

“If it is not Kalonzo, then that will be the end of NASA. It could change to something like Nyanza Super Alliance, because we will pull out,” he said at a press conference at Parliament buildings.

Nyenze accused some members of the 12-member National Coordinating Committee-the organ mandated to pick the NASA presidential flag bearer of stalling talks by deliberately postponing meetings.

“I am not speaking as Nyenze, I am speaking for his Excellency Kalonzo Musyoka, the Wiper Party and the Kamba people, this is the last chance we cannot go round in circles trying to waste time,” Nyenze declared.

He said Wiper’s demand to have Raila Odinga honour a 2013 MOU with Kalonzo, was the reason for the procrastination of the key talks that could have unlocked the stalemate.

“Every time we set to meet as NCC, the meeting is postponed. We were supposed to have a meeting yesterday but it was postponed and the reason is that they fear the question of the MOU,” the MP said.

Kalonzo has in the last two weeks stepped up his activities with a whirlwind of political meetings with leaders from Ukambani to consolidate his bastion, sparking speculation that he could be preparing to go it alone if he is not let to fly the NASA flag.

He has managed to secure the backing of his erstwhile arch rival Charity Ngilu of NARC, a big political reap that increased his stakes in NASA and reduced antagonism within his backyard.

On Tuesday, March 28, Kalonzo held a rally at Emali, bringing together all political leaders and opinion makers from his Ukambani turf in a major public display of might as he pushes for the NASA ticket.

Nyenze maintained that Kalonzo was not ready to play second fiddle to anyone dismissing the NASA technical committee comprised of experts-as ‘skewed and compromised.”

“That Committee is skewed and the results will favour only one side, so we don’t have to keep meeting and even if we meet a hundred times we will not agree until the MOU is honoured,” Nyenze said.

The committee warned that excluding the ODM leader and former Prime Minister would outrage his supporters and convert intact opposition bastions into battlegrounds with Jubilee.

The committee includes economist Dr David Ndii, Nairobi University Prof Adams Oloo, Kabarak University Law Prof Elisha Ongoya, former member of the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission Abubakar Zein and ex-Mumias Sugar Company chairman, Dan Ameyo.