The National Super Alliance (NASA) plans to persuade one Opposition candidate to step down so the coalition can mount a formidable challenge against Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya of Jubilee Party.
There have been growing fears that a split in the Opposition has opened up a path for Mr Mvurya to win in the August 8 elections.
There are two NASA candidates - former immediate Kenyan High Commissioner to Tanzania Chirau Mwakwere of Wiper party and Issah Chipera of ODM - running against Mvurya.
MIDNIGHT OIL
Mvurya was elected on an ODM ticket in 2013 but defected to Jubilee. With the perception that the county is an Opposition zone, NASA has been burning the midnight oil to recapture the seat.
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On a campaign tour of Kwale County on Saturday, NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka reiterated the need for the Opposition to back one candidate.
“We want to sit with both Mwakwere and Chipera and decide on who should face Mvurya,” said Raila in Ukunda.
Raila added that there was need to counter what he described as propaganda that Jubilee had penetrated the county through Mvurya.
Raila said Kwale would never be a Jubilee stronghold as he was the one who had brought Mvurya into the limelight.
“Jubilee is saying that they have infiltrated the Coast through Kwale because of Mvurya. Is it their stronghold?... I am the one who brought Mvurya up by giving him a post but he now says he wants to work with the Government... is it the outgoing or coming government?” posed Raila.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who at one time said he did not know the name of the ODM candidate, said the two (Mwakwere and Chipera) must talk.
“We are looking at how we will talk to the two governor candidates so we can field only one to defeat Mvurya,” said Kalonzo.
SHELVED AMBITIONS
Recounting how NASA principals shelved their ambitions for Raila to be the NASA flag bearer, Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi noted that everyone should set aside their ambitions for NASA to clinch leadership.
“We put aside our ambitions and said the enemy was Jubilee, and decided on one of us so we could win,” said Mr Mudavadi.
An Opposition parliamentary candidate who did not want to be identified said the two candidates had met the NASA leaders but neither one was willing to step down.
