Leaders warn Kalonzo to shun Raila 2022 deal

 A section of leaders from Ukambani region have warned to withdraw their support for Wiper Democratic Movement Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka if he would bow to pressure and support Raila Odinga for presidency in the forthcoming general elections. 

The leaders while addressing a press briefing at Parliament on Wednesday said the former Vice President should not play a second fiddle to the ODM party boss for a third time in the quest for State House. Mr. Musyoka was Raila’s running mate in the 2013 and 2017 general elections.

Led by Kitui Senator Enock Wambua, the Wiper legislators warned that Mr Musyoka would chart that path alone should he consider being the running mate to the former Prime Minister.

“What we are saying is that our people are saying Kalonzo cannot support Raila again. We can support any other person within OKA but not Raila,” fired Mr. Wambua, a close ally of Mr Musyoka.

The Senator who has in the recent days distinguished himself as a fierce defender and supporter of Kalonzo, said a scenario where their party leader would back Mr Odinga’s candidature, then that would attract a backlash from his backyard.

Very painful outcomes

“Should our party leader ever make the decision to support the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga for presidency, we respectfully assure him of two very painful outcomes.

One; he will walk that journey alone and two; the Kamba nation millions of his supporters across the country will never forgive him” the lawmaker charged.

Leaders who flanked Senator Wambua during the presser included Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), Makali Mulu (Kitui Central) Edith Nyenze (Kitui West), Charles Nguna (Mwingi West), Irene Kasalu (Kitui Women Rep) and Danson Mwashako of Wundanyi in Taita Taveta County.

The statement by the MPs coming amid what has been seen in the recent past as a mounting pressure on Kalonzo to throw his weight behind Mr Odinga, Senator Wambua was quick to downplay the speculations. He was categorical that the ODM boss is not part of the options they have as possible partners for the 2022 presidential bid, describing the speculations as “baseless”.

Indeed, the leaders called on the One Kenya Alliance principals Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Senator Gideon Moi (Kanu), Moses Wetangula (Ford-K) and Mr Musyoka to remain steady fast in their unity ahead of the polls assuring them of the region’s unaverred support. “Our personal and collective commitment to the ideals of OKA is deliberate, direct and total. The Lower Eastern region is firmly fully in OKA by choice,” Wambua affirmed.  

On his part Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo said the OKA leaders should give a third option to the voters who neither prefer Raila Odinga nor DP William Ruto who has declared to give his first shot on the presidency using the United Democratic Alliance Party. “A lot of Kenyans are promising that if OKA stays together by December, you will get a surprise, he said.

The bare-knuckle sentiments by the allies of the former Nasa co-principal comes a day after the Wiper chief said that OKA was a sacred outfit that would cause what he termed as “a true people driven revolution”.

STORY BY MWINGI TIMES POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, EDITED BY MUSYOKA NGUI