Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has revealed the infighting within the Azimio One Kenya coalition that could lead Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga not to pick him as his running mate.
Speaking at Taita Taveta on Friday, May 13, Kalonzo said Raila was holding back on picking him as his running mate due to ethnic divisions within Azimio which threatened to tear the coalition apart.
Wiper’s leader further said there was a plot within the coalition to strip him of the running mate post, with a faction pushing for a candidate from Mount Kenya.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant Mike Sonko during a press conference in the county on Friday, May 6, 2022
Kalonzo Musyoka
He said stealing the running mate from him would have political consequences for Raila’s presidential candidacy.
“There is a scheme to deny me the position of running mate based on ethnic considerations. Unlike others who have been put forward, I am the only candidate who will ensure Azimio beats our competition,” the Wiper executive said.
“I have decided to set aside my presidential ambitions for the sake of the ODM leader. We have also walked the path with him and if he decides to abandon me in this hour of need, then he will not win the Presidency.”
“The ODM leader should make a wise decision. If he lets himself be deceived, he will not win the presidency,” he added.
Its allies led by Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo have revealed that the party has already collected signatures and is ready to field Kalonzo in the August elections if things do not go as planned.
Maanzo said the party has also chosen a potential running mate for Kalonzo whose name will be submitted to TUSEN Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) by the Monday May 16 TUSEN.
“The only reason he stopped his ambitions was to support Raila as his deputy. In case it’s not there, the law doesn’t prevent him from running. In case Raila and the President Uhuru Kenyatta change their minds, we 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 nomination TUSEN, we can’t miss this, we have identified a suitable running mate for Kalonzo,” he said.
Insiders have hinted that Wiper is backing Raila’s candidacy in hopes of being given the running mate position negotiated with President Uhuru Kenyatta and the ODM boss.
