Wiper boss: Fence-sitter or a master tactician?

Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka during an interview at his SKM Command Center in Nairobi on March 1, 2022. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Is the former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka a fence-sitter, flip-flopper or a master tactician?

His actions portray a man who is conflicted. On one hand, he appears too cautious, afraid to upset the powers that be. On the other, he appears to be forging a bolder persona, keen to assert his rights.

Yesterday’s press briefing was the perfect depiction of Kalonzo’s political career that is characterised by U-turns.

He demanded that he be named the presidential flag bearer of Azimio One Kenya Alliance instead of ODM leader Raila Odinga. Moments later, Kalonzo caved in and said he would work with Raila.

He demanded a renegotiation of ground rules with Raila before he can support him for the August 9 presidential polls.

Kalonzo believes that only under the stewardship of President Kenyatta would the formation of a Azimio One Kenya Alliance succeed.

“I would like to say there is no tension between me and Raila Odinga. I urge Uhuru Kenyatta to take leadership of the current round of negotiation. He holds a sense of authority and still holds great sway,” Kalonzo stated.

“The President himself said that we now have two Presidential candidates, Odinga proposed by ODM, and Wiper have also given a name, therefore whoever emerges as a flag bearer of Azimio-OKA coalition will receive everyone’s support,” he added.

Although Kalonzo has already secured Wiper’s endorsement to contest for the presidency, he is affiliated to One Kenya Alliance which too is set to decide who among Kalonzo, Gideon Moi, Martha Karua and Cyrus Jirongo will be the presidential candidate. The OKA principals have also not officially joined the Azimio la Umoja movement which is supposed start countrywide rallies this week.

The signing of the coalition agreement among OKA members has been in abeyance for several  weeks and was scheduled to be signed today. However, NARC Kenya has said it needs more time to study the agreement.

Interestingly, Kalonzo wants OKA’s name added to the Azimio la Umoja coalition so that it reads the Azimio One Kenya Alliance. However, the name reserved at the registrar of political parties is Azimio la Umoja movement. This is the outfit that Raila Odinga has been promoting for months and has even set up a presidential campaign secretariat chaired by Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi.

To underscore the importance of Uhuru’s influence in the coalition talks, his Jubilee party will be one of the anchor parties and is already reclaiming its political stature of a behemoth.

Reserved at the office of the registrar of political parties in October 2021 by Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, the ‘Azimio la Umoja Movement’ slogan was originally associated with Raila.

But as the rubble settles from a heavy political week that saw parties hold their national delegates conferences, it is becoming clear Jubilee party as the anchor party can only be rivaled by the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition engineered in 2002.

Last week, the newly rebranded Jubilee signed cooperation agreements with over ten parties, with the responsibility of negotiating on their behalf in the Azimio la Umoja Coalition Party.

Grand Azimio project

 Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju said that the parties that had signed with Jubilee would have Uhuru as their focal point within the grand Azimio project.

 His point was driven home by Cabinet Minister Peter Munya. “We are all the parties that share the same vision and ideology and are now joining so that we can be able to propel ourselves and bring the country together,” he said.

And when Wiper Democratic party leader Kalonzo Musyoka came to speak at KICC during Jubilee’s National Delegates Conference, he thanked the President for “accepting the name Azimio One Kenya  Alliance coalition.”

His sentiments lifted the lid on the fact that Uhuru was now the defacto leader of Azimio and Raila its presidential flagbearer.

“We will walk with you Mr President; the three legged stool will walk with you. It took sometime to accept the name Azimio One Kenya alliance but we are only guided by what’s important to this nation, so we cannot afford to lose this election,” stated Kalonzo.