Kalonzo asks Raila Odinga to drop bid for State House, cites pact

 

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka addresses the press in Nairobi on March 1, 2022. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka is demanding a renegotiation of the Azimio la Umoja coalition engagement rules with ODM leader Raila Odinga before he can commit to running with him in the August 9 presidential race.

Kalonzo yesterday whipped out a “secret agreement” he claimed to have signed with Raila in the run-up to the 2017 elections,which says the ODM leader would not contest the presidency whether or not he won in the last polls.

He contended that Raila had undertaken to pave the way for him after the 2017 polls. This failed deal is now what he wants used as the basis of fresh negotiations with Raila, Azimio’s presumptive presidential candidate.

While reading what he described as a personal statement, Kalonzo said only four people; Raila, Prof Makau Mutua, Prof Kivutha Kibwana and himself were privy to the contents of the pact. He said he now wants Raila to respect that pact, which would automatically disqualify him from vying for the presidency.

In effect, Kalonzo is seeking to become the flag-bearer of the expanded coalition, which he has proposed should be called Azimio One Kenya Alliance. 

“I urge political leaders and all leaders to remain true to their written commitments for this sets a good example to present and future generations,” he said.

However, both Prof Mutua and Prof Kibwana said the pact had been invalidated by the turn of events since Raila did not win in 2017 (see separate story).

The pact provided that Raila would be the Nasa presidential candidate with Kalonzo deputising him in the 2017 elections. But this would change come 2022 as Kalonzo would be backed for the top seat. It also provided that if Raila won in 2017, he was to be in charge for three years after which he would cede substantial power to Kalonzo. “Notably, the pact was to remain in place whether or not we won the 2017 elections of which I believe we won,” said Kalonzo.

The Wiper party leader and One Kenya Alliance (OKA) principal has, by making the document public, introduced fresh negotiation conditions to the protracted talks, yet Azimio is set to unveil its presidential candidate in 10 days.

He now insists that negotiations with the Azimio should be premised on the document and called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to be the lead negotiator between Raila and himself, noting that his efforts to hold talks with Raila have in the recent past been thwarted.

“My brother (Raila) has the option of abiding by the terms of this live binding, legal agreement and thereby emerging as a true, national, regional and indeed continental democratic hero or he chooses to act in utter defiance and repudiation of the agreement, thereby compound the trust deficit,” he said.

He also blamed Prof Mutua, the custodian of the document, accusing him of failing to convene a tripartite meeting roping in Raila despite two requests.  

“It is important to mention that that I have tried twice to have Professor Makau Mutua convene a meeting between me and my brother Raila Odinga in his capacity as the depository of this important document; on his part, Makau stands in breach of this obligation under the agreement since he has joined Raila’s campaign team,” he said.

Moreover, Kalonzo argued that by accepting nomination of ODM to be its presidential nominee, Raila had committed an “irreparable material breach of the agreement”.He did not, however, specify the implications of Raila’s failure to abide by the agreement and only quipped; “We will cross that bridge when we get there.”

The former vice president reiterated his willingness to pursue a working relationship with Raila albeit under clear and structured negotiations.

Among the other things he had to get off his chest was the impossibility of working with UDA, the party expected to nominate Deputy President William Ruto to contest the presidency.

“I cannot work with UDA because of values that I stand for because we know each other in this country. I don’t think I’m ready to work with UDA,” he said.

His sentiments came a day before OKA’s own coalition agreement signing ceremony, which was slated for later today. However, one of the partner parties, Narc-Kenya, yesterday asked for more time to study the document.

Additional reporting by Judah Ben-Hur.