DAP-K party leader reveals deal with Raila

DAP-K leader Wafula Wamunyinyi addressing delagates at the Bomas of Kenya, December 14, 2021. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Democratic Action Party – Kenya (DAP-K) leader Wafula Wamunyinyi has disclosed details contained in a deal reached between his party and ODM chief Raila Odinga.

According to Mr Wamunyinyi, DAP-K delegates resolved to back Raila's presidential bid in the August elections "since we will not be fielding a presidential candidate".

DAP-K held a National Delegates Conference (NDC) at Bomas of Kenya on December 14 and resolved to have Wamunyinyi as party leader and Dr Eseli Simiyu as secretary-general respectively.

Speaking to The Standard at his Bungoma rural home yesterday, Wamunyinyi said he will be on the ballot as a presidential candidate in 2027.

"We don't want to pretend that we are in the race in order to be endorsed by the party for the sake of it. DAP -K is a new broom that is sweeping across Western region and by 2027, we shall have taken over control of of the entire region," said Wamunyinyi.

The Kanduyi lawmaker said DAP-K will, however, sponsor candidates in other elective positions including governor, senator, woman representative, MP and ward representative.

Wamunyinyi said they have agreed to support Raila under the Azimio La Umoja movement "because he is a sure bet in the race".

"This is a two-horse race. It is either you are with Deputy President William Ruto or Raila. We are backing Raila because he fought for second liberation and he will fight for economic revolution and protect the country's assets, unlike Ruto who has always resisted reforms and has 'dictatorial' tendencies," argued Wamunyinyi.

He went on: "Ruto is constantly pushing for a one-party State by asking those who support his candidature to fold their parties and yet the Constitution does not limit the number of parties."

According to Wamunyinyi, Raila's presidency will pave way for other communities to produce a president and end the dominance of Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities.

"President Uhuru Kenyatta is alive to that fact and mentioned it at the burial of the mother of ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi last year. He was categorical that another community should be given a chance to lead the country."

The lawmaker said the Mulembe Nation stands a better chance to produce a president in case Raila wins and serves for just one term.

He said failure by Mudavadi and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula to show the region political direction left a vacuum that DAP-K is seeking to fill.

"Mudavadi and Wetang'ula are going nowhere. They have reached 'political menopause' and will be irrelevant by 2027," said Wamunyinyi.

He said he was ready to work closely with Mudavadi and Wetang'ula in case they choose to join Azimio La Umoja.

Wamunyinyi dismissed the quest for elusive Luhya unity, arguing that what DAP-K wishes to achieve is to edge out Wetang'ula and Mudavadi and focus on pushing for the presidency in 2027.

"Majority of Ford Kenya ward representatives from Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties have joined DAP-K and we are planning to raid Mudavadi's Vihiga home turf," he said.

But Ford Kenya leadership has dismissed claims that it has lost majority of the party MCAs to the newly formed DAP-K.

Ford Kenya Secretary-General Chris Wamalwa said the lion's party support in Western remains intact.