Retire with Uhuru, Kalonzo tells Raila

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called upon his ODM counterpart Raila Odinga to give up his presidential ambitions saying his age was too advanced for presidential duties. He was speaking on Wednesday morning when he appeared on Emoo FM, a Kalenjin radio station.

"My thinking is that President Uhuru should go home with Raila. If you look at the ages of all the others who want to contest for the presidency, Raila is way ahead of us,”, said Kalonzo.

Raila Odinga is aged 76 years.  Kalonzo is aged 67 years, an age difference of 9. President Uhuru Kenyatta is 59 while DP Ruto is 54.

Mr Musyoka's Okoa Kenya Alliance (OKA) is yet to unveil a presidential flagbearer. Other partners in the coalition are Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) and Gedion Moi (Kanu).

The Tseikuru man said that Kalenjins and Kambas enjoy a cordial history working together. He added that it was KDF General Jackson Mulinge who saved former President Daniel Moi in 1982 coup d'etat. "For a long time, ACK heads have either been Kalenjin or Kamba. And during the 1982 coup, it was General Jackson Mulinge who saved President Moi. You can see we have a long history,”, he recalled.

Kalonzo said that his party was not a tribal outfit but one that accommodates all Kenyans. That’s why despite getting few slots to nominate to parliament, Wiper picked Sammy Kipkorir Seroney, he says.

Asked why he thinks he was the best candidate to be Kenya’s fifth president, Kalonzo said he was a globally celebrated peacemaker, God-fearing and has diverse experience to run the country.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI, EDITED By BONIFACE MWANIKI