KAKAMEGA: Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula yesterday declared he was best suited candidate to be CORD presidential flag bearer in the 2017 elections.
In what could further escalate the fragile peace in the Opposition, Wetang’ula told Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka, who are both eyeing the same ticket, to back his bid.
His declaration came four days after the three Opposition chiefs ironed out differences triggered by Raila’s skipping of Wetang’ula’s presidential bit launch at Muliro Gardens in Kakamega on April 2.
During the launch a week ago, fault lines emerged in CORD after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya members clashed.
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Yesterday, Wetang’ula insisted he would win CORD’s presidential ticket as he was “the best candidate in the coalition”.
“I have assessed myself and realised that I am the best option for this country. I am the best among the principals in CORD and with their support, I will defeat President Uhuru Kenyatta by 9am,” he told worshippers in Bulemia Catholic Church in Budalang’i, Busia County.
He said it was time his fellow CORD co-principals backed his bid to rule the nation, and insisted he would be on the presidential ballot in 2017.
ONLY THREAT
“I have started the journey for the presidency. My journey will not end anywhere other than winning the leadership of this country. Nobody is interested in starting a journey to fail but everybody wishes to win and I am sure I will win,” said Wetang’ula.
He added: “I am the only threat to Uhuru. When I stand to speak, President Uhuru listens to me because I talk sense and I have what it takes to defeat him to change this nation. We are in CORD to stay as equal partners and no party is a junior party in the coalition.”
A week after he launched his presidential bid at Muliro Gardens in Kakamega, Wetang’ula asked leaders from the region to ditch other political parties and join Ford Kenya.
“To those who had taken shelter in other parties, the rain is over. Please come back home to Ford Kenya to walk this journey we have started and our target is to form the next government,” he said.
Wetang’ula, also the Senate Minority Leader, said his leadership would tackle corruption and address the economic crisis facing the country.
He accused the Jubilee coalition for dividing the nation.
Ford Kenya Secretary General Eseli Simiyu said they would fight for the top leadership “using all means”.
“We will work and fight for the leadership of this nation. We are optimistic we will win it,” said Simiyu (Tongaren MP).
Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi asked the Luhya to ditch ODM and support Ford Kenya.
“The community should unite and fight for the leadership in CORD. It is time for our people to decamp from ODM and join Ford Kenya,” said Wamunyinyi.
There has been growing unease in the Wetang’ula camp, where MPs Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini) and Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi) have publicly stated that the faith between Ford Kenya, ODM and Wiper is no longer what it used to be.
