Cord which binds me, Wetang’ula, Raila unbreakable, says Kalonzo

Wiper Democratic Movement party leader Kalonzo Musyoka says lessons have been learnt from past mistakes and that he will never part ways with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga again.

Reacting to reports that a political fallout may be imminent as both leaders have indicated they would seek an opposition presidential nomination, the former Vice-President said the country’s political history binds he and the ODM leader together all the way to the 2017 presidential elections.

“Raila and I have history. We know when the rain started beating us. Had the Orange party remained united in 2006 and 2007, this country would not be as divided as it is today,” said Kalonzo.

Kalonzo, Raila and Ford-Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula are co-principals in the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and all three have indicated they will seek the presidential nomination.

However, Kalonzo dismissed speculation of a potential fallout.

“There are traps to divide us. But we have learnt from past mistakes and are wiser now. Do you think any force can divide us? Not again, we cannot be rained on twice,” he said in an interview at his Karen home in Nairobi.

Speculation of a fallout has been largely driven by recollections of the spectacular parting of ways between Raila and Kalonzo in the run up to the 2007 General Election.

Before these elections, it had been anticipated that the Orange Democratic Party (ODM), which had marshalled support from all parts of the country with the exception of Central Kenya, would sweep aside President Mwai Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU).

However, a rift emerged when Raila and Kalonzo both sought the ODM presidential nomination and each side refused to budge. Eventually Kalonzo, with a sizeable number of supporters from Ukambani, left the party to form the ODM-Kenya, significantly splitting the ODM vote in the poll and allowing Kibaki to narrowly squeak through and controversially secure the presidency.

Raila would eventually pick Kalonzo as his running mate in the 2013 General Election but lose to Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee alliance.

In the past year, CORD has been trying to build support through a people’s initiative to amend the Constitution under the Okoa Kenya campaign vehicle and has drafted a Bill proposing what laws it wants amended.

Kalonzo believes they will amend the Constitution in this way and build in it guarantees that will safeguard it from being undermined by an Executive that wants to consolidate its power.

“After we passed the new Constitution in 2010, we thought we were okay as a country, but the current leadership is now watering down the same Constitution. The Presidency is more powerful, supported by a huge majority in the National Assembly and tribalism is rampant. There is no time the country has been as divided as it is today,” said Kalonzo.

“We are sure the Okoa Kenya referendum initiative will gain the support of more than 24 county assemblies. Which county can vote against a Bill that is pushing for more empowerment of devolved units?” asked Kalonzo in reference to a legal requirement that a people’s initiative must be supported a majority of counties before it can proceed to a referendum.

“We are determined as CORD to stick together and this time round, we must liberate this country. Ours is going to be a “collegial” presidency where we will all be equal.” Kalonzo spoke shortly after Wetang’ula revealed that emissaries of the ruling coalition had attempted to lure him to join Jubilee. Like Kalonzo, the Bungoma Senator said they would not be divided by Jubilee.

The Okoa Kenya movement is set to launch regional sensitisation forums in former provincial capitals during which members of its legal teams will conduct civic education of the merits of their proposals.

Others who want to be involved in this drive could include county governors united under the Pesa Mashinani movement which has indicated it may back the Okoa-Kenya drive.

“Okoa Kenya will ensure that women get at least a third of all elected seats in the National Assembly and County Assemblies,” said Kalonzo.

“You cannot touch on the 290 constituencies and 47 county women seats. There should be a way to look for the additional 33 seats for women to meet the two-thirds gender requirement,” he added.

Kalonzo who is also head of the Wiper party, which is a corporate member of CORD, said his party’s recent special National Delegates Conference had strengthened their resolve to recruit more supporters outside the Ukambani region.

He said they would ensure Wiper is not infiltrated by Jubilee moles, and added that their ability to do this was demonstrated in its NDC.

“Jubilee was caught off-guard and could not interfere the way they did with ODM,” said Kalonzo in reference to the stage managed fights that broke out when the Orange party held its NDC.

To give Wiper a national profile, a deputy party leader from Western Kenya will be appointed. “The Secretary General is Senator Hassan Omar from Coast. The first deputy party leader is Shakiila Abdala, also from Coast. The party constitution gives me the authority to appoint another deputy party leader, and that position is likely to go to Western Kenya,” said Kalonzo.

Futile unity bid

Even as it seeks to consolidate its position beyond the Ukambani region, Kalonzo revealed attempts to unite Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama and Governor Alfred Mutua had been suspended.

“Dr. Mutua is a hard working governor who is rated number one and that credit goes to Wiper. Muthama, on the other hand, is committed to CORD’s ideals as co-chair of the management board. If they cannot at personal level agree, let them work the way they can,” said Kalonzo.

The former VP asked politicians from lower Eastern who were elected on a Wiper ticket to support the party rather than Jubilee otherwise they will be locked out in 2017. “They rode on my name, claimed they are in CORD but have jumped ship to Jubilee. They should curse each passing day as elections draw nearer,” said Kalonzo.