Wiper wants Kalonzo Musyoka to be CORD's flag bearer in 2017

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka with the party chairman David Musila ( in cape ) addressing the Media at Maanzoni Lodge during NEC, and Parliamentary group meeting to map the way forward for Presidential election 2017 31/08/15 PHOTO MOSES OMUSULA

The Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) party has endorsed its leader Kalonzo Musyoka to go for the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) ticket for the presidency in 2017.

And the party said it will press other presidential aspirants in the coalition to shelve their ambitions in favour of Musyoka.

Wiper Chairman David Musila said party members believe the former Vice President is the best placed to face off with Jubilee's President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2017 race. ODM's Raila Odinga and Ford Kenya's Moses Wetang'ula have already expressed interest in running for the presidency on a CORD ticket in 2017.

"Wiper has a candidate and we think he is the best. We shall have a better mechanism to deal with the issue of picking CORD's presidential flag bearer and it shall be smooth," said Musila, who is also the senator for Kitui.

Addressing journalists after a two-day retreat at Maanzoni Lodge yesterday, Musila said the coalition has a special team that will come up with the criteria for picking the flag bearer.

Speaking at the same forum, Kalonzo said CORD is determined to "liberate Kenyans from Jubilee's misrule".

"We shall hold on to CORD because we want to liberate Kenyans from misrule. Jubilee should not think that all things will remain constant," said Kalonzo.

Further, he insisted that for free, fair and credible elections to take place, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission must be reformed.

Wiper Secretary General Hassan Omar said the party supports the push for better salaries for teachers.

"The party supports teachers' position to demand their pay as ordered by the court. We don't support further procrastination on the teacher's pay and propose that the monies meant for laptops be diverted towards payment of teacher's salaries," said the Mombasa Senator.

During the meeting, two MPs found themselves on the receiving end over their association with Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua.

It took Kalonzo's intervention to save Kilome MP Regina Ndambuki and nominated MP Robert Mutemi from the wrath of angry party supporters.

The supporters had stormed the meeting and demanded that the two walk out for "undermining and disrespecting" the party leader.

They accused the Kilome MP of recording the proceedings with the intent of sending the same to Mutua.

"As we continue talking here, they are sending messages to the governor. We cannot continue sitting in a meeting where we are being recorded," shouted one member.

Kalonzo, however, intervened and pleaded with the supporters to calm down. After the meeting, Kalonzo escorted the two to their vehicles and they left. They did not attend yesterday's session.

Later, Ndambuki wondered why she was being targeted, saying she is free to associate with anyone. "What crime have I committed for associating with Governor Mutua who is elected on a Wiper ticket like me?" she posed.

Mavoko MP Patrick Makau hit out at Dr Mutua for "shedding crocodile tears" during a public meeting. He claimed shedding tears in public is against the Kamba culture, adding "kings never shed tears in public".