Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, has revealed the infighting within Azimio One Kenya coalition which may lead to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga, not picking him as his running mate.
Speaking in Taita Taveta on Friday, May 13, Kalonzo stated that Raila is holding back from picking him as his running mate due to ethnic divisions within Azimio that have threatened to tear apart the coalition.
The Wiper leader further stated that there is a plot within the coalition to rob him of the running mate position, with one faction pushing for a Mount Kenya candidate.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant, Mike Sonko, at a press conference in the county on Friday, May 6, 2022
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Kalonzo Musyoka He stated that robbing him the running mate post would have political consequences on Raila’s presidential bid.
“There is a scheme to deny me the running mate position due to ethnic considerations. Unlike others who have been proposed, I am the only candidate who will ensure Azimio beats our competitors,” the Wiper leader stated.
“I decided to shelve my presidential ambitions for the sake of the ODM leader. We have also walked the journey together with him and if he decides to abandon me at this hour of need, then he will not win the presidency.”
“The ODM leader should make a wise decision. If he allows himself to be misled, he will not win the presidency,” he added.
His allies led by Makueni Member of Parliament, Daniel Maanzo, disclosed that the party has already collected signatures and was ready to field Kalonzo in the August polls if things do not go their way.
Maanzo stated that the party has also settled on a potential running mate for Kalonzo whose name will be submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before the Monday, May 16, deadline.
“The only reason he stopped his ambitions was to support Raila as his deputy. In the event that is not there, the law does not stop him from running. In the event Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta change their mind, we will run on our own.
Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo speaking at an event in 2019. “We have collected all the signatures and they are ready. On the May 16 running mate naming deadline, we cannot miss that, we have identified a suitable running mate for Kalonzo,” he stated.
Insiders have intimated that Wiper is supporting Raila’s candidature with the expectation of being given the running mate slot as negotiated with President Uhuru Kenyatta and the ODM boss.
dead fight
