One Kenya Alliance principals will miss today’s Azimio la Umoja convention where Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga will declare his presidential bid.
Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula said they will not be able to attend due to personal engagement.
“I have just received an official invitation to Azimio la Umoja Convention. As noted herein, the invitation was addressed in my personal capacity as ANC Party Leader and not OKA Principal. Regrettably, I will not be able to attend because of personal engagements,” said Mudavadi in a statement on his Twitter account.
The ANC leader said although Raila is a worthy competitor, he wishes him well because tomorrow will clearly be his day in the sun.
Musyoka is in Juba, South Sudan for talks with President Salva Kirr on the peace process.
For Wetangula, matters aggravated with Raila when MPs Wafula Wamunyinyi and Eseli Simiyu declared that they had quit the Simba party.
Wetangula accused Raila of assisting the two to stage a failed coup in Ford Kenya.
However, Kanu leader Gideon Moi and former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo are expected to grace today’s event.
Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat confirmed Moi will be attending.
“We must reciprocate. Raila came to ours, so it is only in order that we attend his. We will be there to ensure the event is successful,” he said.
It was also expected that president Uhuru Kenyatta would attend the event but he is in Tanzania for their 60th Independence Day celebrations.
Raila is expected to declare his presidential bid during the declaration.
The party is looking to attendance by 10,000 delegates drawn from ODM and Jubilee, across the country while 50,000 supporters are expected to come on their own from Nairobi and neighbouring counties.
The party leadership has made it clear the meeting will not be an ODM affair as had been widely expected.
MPs led by John Mbadi, Maina Kamanda and Richard Onyonka met at Orange House, Nairobi, on Tuesday before touring Kasarani stadium, the venue of the conference expected to host more than 60,000 people.