NAIROBI: The contentious issue of who among Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula will be CORD's presidential candidate in the 2017 elections reportedly featured at the Opposition's just concluded retreat.
Senior Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) figures are said to have implored the gathering that included governors and MPs from the CORD affiliate parties to ensure the issue is handled delicately as it could tear the coalition apart.
Concerns were expressed that members of the three main parties in the coalition, namely ODM, Wiper and Ford Kenya, should desist from public endorsements of their respective party leaders and instead leave it to the three co-principals to settle on the best method to resolve the issue.
It is understood that Wiper members protested that the ODM wing of the coalition had portrayed Raila as the automatic choice for the CORD ticket, which they interpreted as undermining their party leader, Kalonzo.
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But responding to the concerns, Raila reportedly said the forum was not the right platform to address the issue, which he explained would be dwelt with at the right time. For now, Raila reportedly said, the Opposition should not be distracted from keeping the Jubilee Government in check.
"That is not an issue to be deliberated at this forum. We will handle that at the right time. At the moment, as the Opposition we should concentrate on how to hold the Jubilee Government to account and improve our performance as an Opposition both in and out of the National Assembly and Senate," Raila reportedly told the CORD parliamentary group and governors meeting in Naivasha.
Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyong'o had reportedly told the plenary meeting that the issue should not be discussed in public rallies but should be handled with care lest it destroys the coalition.
"That issue must be handled with care. As members of the coalition we should leave it to the three principals to decide on the modality, method or formula to be used in picking one of them," Nyong'o reportedly told the meeting.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Siaya Senator James Orengo who said the issue on who would be the Opposition flag-bearer was a 'non-issue' as far as the coalition was concerned.
"Read the lips of the principals. We know what the media wants to hear, but we want to tell you that the coalition is intact and steadfast," Orengo told a media briefing after a closed-door meeting attended by the three co-principals and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua.
A source in the meeting said continued demands by Wiper party members that Kalonzo be an automatic presidential flag-bearer caused jitters during the plenary session.
Wiper legislators were unhappy with the attitude of their counterpart in ODM, whom they accused of making it appear as if the coalition had made a foregone conclusion that Raila will be the sole flag-bearer for the coalition in 2017.
Recently, Kalonzo and Wetang'ula separately announced they would challenge Raila for the presidential ticket, saying none had given the former premier clearance to be CORD's flag-bearer.
Kalonzo and Wetangula are on record cautioning ODM leadership against such rash utterances and avoided the issue when making their remarks to members.
Monday, however, the co-principals downplayed the issue, with Raila reportedly telling members of the coalition that it would be handled at the right time. And as the meeting came to a close Monday, it also emerged that Karua appears to be warming up to the coalition.
Although Karua downplayed joining CORD, there were all indications that cracks were emerging in the coalition led by Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang'ula.
Members who attended the two-day retreat at Naivasha's Great Rift Lodge and Golf Resort, told the three to resolve the issue early to avoid further divisions.
Karua said she was at the retreat on the invitation of the three CORD principals.
"I am here with my deputy party leader and another member on the invitation of CORD," she said.
The meeting resolved to ensure the Jubilee Government honours teachers' demands for a salary increment of between 50-0 per cent as awarded by the courts.
