National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader Raila Odinga’s decision to endorse Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s as the coalition’s 2022 presidential flag bearer has sparked fury among western Kenya leaders.
Speaking last Friday during a people’s assembly meeting in Machakos, Odinga said Kalonzo has the full backing of the alliance in 2022.
“Professor Kibwana, we are still in hot pursuit of our antelope that was stolen from us by Uhuru and Ruto in the August 8 polls. The 2022 antelope will be captured by Kalonzo and will slaughter for Kenyans to eat and he has our full backing,” Raila said.
However, his decision has not been received well by a section of Western Kenya leaders led by Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka and Lugari’s Ayub Savula, who claim that there was no pre-election deal signed between Nasa affiliate parties stating that Kalonzo would be the automatic presidential torch bearer for the coalition in 2022.
“We did not enter into an agreement of supporting Kalonzo candidature in 2022 since we will be fronting Musalia Mudavadi as NASA presidential candidate,” Aseka said.
“Mudavadi is the brain child of NASA and we cannot allow to be shortchanged this time round. Mudavadi is a man whose time to marry has come and he will marry the Presidency. We cannot postpone the marriage,” he added.
His sentiments were backed by Savula, who accused Raila and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party of shortchanging Mudavadi and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula in sharing of Parliament positions.
He further stated that the next Nasa presidential candidate must be drawn from the western region.
“Mudavadi is the only formidable candidate to wrestle power from Jubilee party in 2022. Any agreement we will be entering into, Mudavadi must the flagbearer,” Savula said.
“Wetang’ula is also of the view that in 2022, the region produces the head of state, “he said.
Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali of Jubilee party also backed Mudavadi’s 2022 presidential quest and decried the sidelining of Western region by both Nasa and Jubilee.
“In all 35 committees we do not have any committee chaired by an MP from western. Of the nine EALA seats we have none, the two coalitions have failed us,” Shinali said.
“Jubilee is a tribal based political party and we have come to our senses to come back home and support one of our own,” he added.
