Join Raila or forget your presidential bid, Ngilu tells Kalonzo

 Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has told Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to forget the presidency in the forthcoming election if he does not unite with ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Ngilu said in an event that Kalonzo heeds to his allies’ pressure to be on the ballot in 2022, he should altogether not anticipate to lead this country forever.

The Governor said she had good moral standing and intentions towards the former Vice President’s presidential bid but the truth of the unfolding political scenario did not favour him.

“Kalonzo should agree to come to the negotiating table with Raila and field one candidate. It does not matter whom the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) picks to face Deputy President William Ruto or any other presidential hopeful, including Raila as well,” Ngilu said.

She wondered how the Akamba community will benefit if they choose to vote for Kalonzo and lose the presidency, adding that the community must coalesce behind Raila to avoid being locked out of the next government.

Speaking at various stop overs along the Nairobi-Machakos-Kitui highway after receiving five specially built Isuzu trucks for transporting cattle in the expansive county, the Governor reprimanded Senator Enock Wambua for leading a battery of the Wiper leader’s allies in holding him (Kalonzo) hostage by urging him (Mr Musyoka) to be on the ballot for their own political expediency.

“Most of those telling Kalonzo is the most suitable and formidable candidate and he should take a stab at the presidency next year, are absolute pretenders and political deceits only for them to benefit by clinching on his presidential bid,” Ngilu said.

The Governor who has consistently preferred Raila to Kalonzo for the presidency, said this country needed a leader as their next Head of State who understands liberations better.

During the burial of former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile in Mbui Nzau, Makueni County last June, Raila said he was ready to work with Kalonzo so that they increase their chances of forming the next government.

“Kalonzo and I won’t go separate ways. We will work together so that we rescue Kenya from thieves’ capture,” Mr Odinga said.

Electoral losses

Raila and Kalonzo have, in the last two general elections, fielded a joint ticket, which lost to the Uhuru Kenyatta-William Ruto (UhuRuto) pair in 2013 and 2017.

The Wiper leader has since said he will run for the presidency alone in the 2022 general election, stating he doesn’t need to be endorsed by Raila to win the contest.

“I only seek the endorsement of our heavenly father who delivered the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, taking them through the desert to the Holy Land,” Kalonzo said.

He had, before the 2013 general election, run for the presidency alone after falling out with Raila in the run-up to the disputed 2007 general election. Kalonzo came third with 879,903 votes, after Mwai Kibaki (4,584,721) and Raila Odinga (4,352,993).

STORY by PAUL MUTUA, EDITED By MUSYOKA NGUI