If Kalonzo, Raila don’t unite in 2022, Ruto will have a field day: Ngilu

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has urged Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka to work together in 2022. [File, Standard]

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has urged ODM leader Raila Odinga and his Wiper counterpart, Kalonzo Musyoka, to merge teams so as to reduce DP William Ruto’s chances of winning the presidency in 2022.

Speaking at the burial of former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile on Friday, June 11 Ngilu said should Kalonzo and Raila run as separate entities, then Ruto would have a field day in the presidential contest.

“If Kalonzo and Raila fail to unite ahead of 2022, then Ruto’s chances of success will be high,” Ngilu said while addressing mourners at Ndile’s Mbui Nzau home.

“How will the Kamba community benefit if they choose to vote for Kalonzo and lose the presidency?” she posed, adding: “We must accept and work with Raila so that we beat Ruto [in the 2022 presidential election].”

“[Machakos Governor Alfred] Mutua, [his Makueni counterpart Kivutha] Kibwana and Kalonzo should agree to come to the negotiating table with Raila and field one candidate.”

Ngilu also questioned the benefits Ukambani region is getting from the handshake deal.

“We have seen development being channelled to other regions. [As Ukambani people], we must sit down and address how handshake would benefit us too,” she said.

Re-emphasising her stand in 2022, Ngilu said: “I will ensure I craft a formula that would see Kalonzo and Raila in one team. I do not want to be part of [Ruto’s] Hustler nation.”

“If any of the three; Kalonzo, Kibwana and Mutua run for presidency alone, they would be defeated,” she said.

On his part, Raila Odinga said he was ready to work with Kalonzo so that they increase their chances of forming the next government.

“Kalonzo and I won’t go separate ways. We will work together so that we rescue Kenya from thieves’ capture,” he said.

On the halted BBI process, Raila urged those opposed to the drive, particularly the clergy, “not to lecture him on when, why and how ‘reggae’ should be stopped”.  

“Whether reggae should be stopped, or should continue playing, is none of the clergy’s business,” said the former prime minister.

Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka have, in the last two general elections, fielded a joint ticket, which lost to Uhuru Kenyatta-William Ruto pair in 2013 and 2017.

Kalonzo has since said he will run for the presidency alone in the 2022 general election, stating he doesn’t need to be endorsed by Raila Odinga to win the contest.

“I only seek the endorsement of our heavenly father who delivered the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, taking them through the desert to the holy land,” he said in December 2019.

Musyoka had, before the 2013 general election, run for the presidency alone after falling out with Raila Odinga in the run-up to the disputed 2007 general election. He (Kalonzo) came third with 879,903 votes, after Mwai Kibaki (4,584,721) and Raila Odinga (4,352,993).