Kalonzo ally hints at alliance with Raila
The possibility of an alliance bringing together former political allies-turned-foes Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka was raised at a rally on Thursday. Read (VP Musyoka rules out pact talks with PM Odinga)
One of Mr Musyoka’s allies, Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama, said the PM and VP should agree who among them should go for the presidency and who should be the running mate.
This is the latest of alliances that have been hinted at as the country approaches the March 4, 2013 General Election.
Last week, it was reported that International Criminal Court suspects Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto had agreed to contest the elections on a joint ticket with the latter as running mate.
This came shortly after reports that Mr Ruto had held talks with Mr Odinga over the possibility of leading his United Republican Party into an alliance with ODM.
Although Mr Odinga did not respond directly to the Wiper alliance suggestion, he was warmly welcomed in Tala and Kangundo Towns in Machakos County, the perceived stronghold of Mr Musyoka.
The PM declared that his presence in Kangundo with Mr Muthama was a “sign of things to come.”
“We have come a long way together and whenever we reach agreement things happen,” Mr Odinga said.
Mr Odinga called for unity of all the 42 tribes in Kenya and dismissed tribal coalitions being formed to win the elections.
Sources in both Mr Musyoka and Mr Odinga’s camps indicated talks had been ongoing for the two leaders to face the next elections as one.
Mr Muthama, the joint Government chief-whip, said Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka should agree to work together.
He declared that the journey for Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka had started at Kangundo and Tala.
His views were supported by Lands minister James Orengo, an Odinga ally, who claimed Mr Musyoka was being sidelined “the same way Mzee Kenyatta sidelined (a local Kangundo hero) Paul Ngei who helped him ascend to power.”Mr Muthama who said Mr Musyoka, who is on a visit to Israel, had asked Kangundo people to accord Mr Odinga a warm reception.
In an apparent reference to pact between TNA leader Uhuru Kenyatta and URP’s William Ruto to work together ahead of next elections, Mr Muthama said: “It is wrong for two communities to say they will unite because of their numbers to win the presidency.”
“We don’t want two people to sit in a house and decide who should be husband and wife,” the Kangundo MP said.
The chief whip said Thursday's meetings opened a new chapter between Wiper and ODM and that the VP and PM should now hold talks and decide on formula to use ahead of next polls.
He said only the blind and the deaf could not see the new political alliance between Wiper and ODM and could not predict where they were going.
“If the two (Odinga and Musyoka) work together, they will easily win. I had even warned them against splitting in last elections,” he said.
He said even if the two “walk on foot” they will get to State House but the presidency is only one slot which requires them to agree on a flag-bearer.
“We are in final moments of the game and we have to score goals through all means,” Mr Muthama said.
Former MP Kalembe Ndile said leadership should not return to Central Kenya next year and that locals should agree to support candidates from other regions.
“In 2002 Mr Odinga backed Kibaki but he was betrayed. Even me I was let down,” he said.
Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey called for unity of all Kenyans “as all the 42 tribes are equal.”
“No tribe or region is more equal than others. That is why I am in ODM,” he said.
Mr Kosgey said Kenyans should vote for Mr Odinga as he suffered for long fighting for justice, was detained for nine years and that he will ensure good health, education, roads and other infrastructure for all.
Mr Musyoka has in the past indicated that he was ready to form a coalition with any other party but not ODM.
Mr Odinga who had lunch at Mr Muthama’s home before addressing a rally at Tala and opening an ODM office said “we want to show unity of all Kenyans, all the 42 tribes including the El Molos.”
“I will never talk about two tribes uniting to ascend to power. All the 42 tribes including the El Molos are Kenyans. None is in the country because of invitation by the other,” he said.
Union between Mr Odinga and Musyoka could rekindle their former pact within the original ODM Kenya in the lead up to the last General Election.
Mr Musyoka has since rebranded his half of the Orange party as Wiper Democratic Movement.
But the two parted ways acrimoniously just before the party nominations with Mr Odinga heading to the splinter ODM.
Many of Mr Odinga’s allies have never forgiven Mr Musyoka for agreeing to work with President Kibaki’s PNU and becoming Vice President when ODM was challenging the presidential results in January 2008.
Mr Muthama said it is because of the parting of ways between Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka that the country was divided and sprung into chaos in 2007.
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