MPs want Kalonzo named CORD flagbearer

By martin mutua

Pressure is now mounting within the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) over whom, among the three co-principals, should carry the 2017 presidential ticket.

While former Prime Minister Raila odinga is deemed as the automatic flagbearer, his co-principals former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula have come under immense pressure from their allies not to play second fiddle in the next elections.

The first to publicly declare interest in the presidency come 2017 was Wetang’ula who says he will be seeking the support of both Raila and Kalonzo to fly the CORD flag come 2017.

Wetang’ula has been emboldened by the recent landslide victory against his petitioner Musikari Kombo in the Bungoma senatorial by-elections. Add to this the talk of him being crowned the Luhya spokesman and the Ford-Kenya party leader has declared that he would end the “best maid” tag that has been given to Western Kenya politicians in presidential elections.

On the other hand Kalonzo has recently come under pressure from his allies mostly Members of Parliament from Ukambani who have told him that they would hear nothing short of him taking a stab at the presidency.

Five legislators from Machakos County have said the Kamba community has already tasted the vice presidency and therefore this time round the focus was on the top seat.

Collision course

Addressing a public meeting at Mwala market, the MPs Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), Benson Mbai (Masinga), Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town), Machakos Women’s Representative Mrs Susan Musyoka, warned the former VP that if he fails to go for the presidency then he should back Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua for the position.

The leaders were categorical that Kalonzo should know that time for the Kamba community to take the presidency was ripe and therefore he must join the presidential race in the next general elections.

‘’But if he feels he is not fit for the position, then he should back Dr Alfred Mutua to go for the top job because he has what it takes to wrestle with other contestants,’’ said Musyoka.

And the leaders were more precise that they will not accept being dragged to support anybody else for the presidency by the former VP if he doesn’t heed their advise.

‘’In any case we shall determine by our own which way to go without interference if the former VP will let down the community by refusing to contest for the top job,’’ said Mr Mbai.

While Kalonzo has not come out to comment about the sentiments by his allies, pressure is likely to mount from the region for him to run for the top seat, a move that is likely to bring him and his co-principals on a collision course.

Raila, who has sparked a political storm with fresh rigging allegations, is seen as preparing for another stab at the presidency in 2017.

The remarks have been a subject of heated debate between CORD leaders on the one hand and Jubilee leaders and security arms of the government on the other.

The former PM is on record declaring that he is still in active politics and that his supporters both in ODM and in CORD still favour him as their leader and would not wish him to exit the scene any time soon.