One Kenya Alliance in bid to harmonise pact and pick flagbearer

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi during the funeral service of the late the former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo,at CITAM Valley Road on Thursday, June 24 2021. [David Njaaga, Standard]

One Kenya Alliance (OKA) principals are in the process of harmonising their pact and settling on a flag bearer.

A day after talks dubbed ‘tea meeting', ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi (pictured), Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Kanu chairman and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and Ford Kenya party leader and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula had a brainstorming session with Members of Parliament on Wednesday.

In an apparent move to dispel rumours of possible falling-out, the leaders shared a picture taken after the meeting.

“The future is here. One Kenya,” said Mudavadi on social media.

Speaking to The Standard yesterday, the ANC leader was guarded on details about the meeting, but promised to make public the progress after respective parties consult within their structures.

“We agreed to keep mum for now. We met as politicians first to build talks of certain political aspects. We must say, it's one step at a time and the mood is good,” he said.

He declined to comment on reports that they received an update from the technical team tasked to draft a legal agreement.

The leaders are reportedly working to settle on a presidential candidate, without banking on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill that seeks to expand the Executive.

Gideon said they will continue to forge solid partnerships with leaders who share the vision for a united and prosperous nation where the people have equal opportunity to thrive in their economic and social endeavours.

Tiaty MP William Kamket, an ally of the Kanu chairman, said the meeting was to plan how to move forward as a united team.

“We are having discussions. We are not interested in the legal issues for now. We are getting together to look at the policy document and emerging issues from the technical team to ensure they are harmonised,” said Mr Kamket.

”We are looking at each other in the eye as for now, the reality is that we are looking at only two top slots. It means at this time, only two can lead us and the other will be disappointed."

He stressed that the team is focused on moving together as one as next year's General Election approaches.

Kalonzo also reaffirmed unity of the alliance to win.

“Concluded a day-long meeting with my colleagues in the One Kenya Alliance, Senator Gideon and Senator Wetang'ula. We met a section of elected leaders from our respective parties and discussed ways of strengthening our union in readiness for the next election,” he said.

The principals plan hold regular meetings before they make "a major pronouncement soon."

The leaders said they want to engage Kenyans on a platform of trust and economic rejuvenation.

“We are cognizant of the fact that at the end of the day, Kenyans will choose a leader who can guarantee them and their children a solid future of posterity through an administration that belongs to them,” said one of the leaders.

Also present at the Wednesday meeting were MP Sakwa Bunyasi (Nambale) and Abdikarim Mohammed (Fafi), and Senators Enoch Wambua (Kitui), Sakaja Johnson (Nairobi) and Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni).