Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has stated that he is willing to cooperate with the Azimio la Umoja movement regardless of whether Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), supports his presidential bid or not, as long as a structured framework is in place.
Kalonzo, while in an interview with a local TV station also admitted that despite his tough demands, said he has no option but to work with the ODM party leader in the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, slamming the door for joining the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
“If it comes to that conclusion with all the three pillars, I will be happy to support anybody, even Odinga, but we could come up with somebody else,” said Musyoka.
However, he maintains that the former Prime Minister has to honour their 2017 agreement to back him in the August General Election, Musyoka said his party and One Kenya Alliance (OKA) have resolved that he works with Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja.
“After deep consultations, my own party and also One Kenya Alliance (OKA) has agreed to a three-pillar structure.
We are ready to work within a grand coalition of Azimio and OKA. Indeed, the party leader of Jubilee himself has come out to pronounce on that particular formation.
Therefore, that is a bigger consideration within that framework. So, we have no option but to work with Odinga,” Kalonzo added.
He also defended his decision to divulge the secret deal with the ODM chief, saying that he was calling upon national leaders to remain responsible and committed on pertinent issues.
“The personal statement I issued was of paramount importance and I was calling on national leaders to be responsible, particularly when they commit themselves to certain obligations.
Because I saw Odinga getting nominated and accepting to run as the ODM presidential candidate yet again, which goes against the letter and spirit of the agreement we signed between him and myself,” he said.
Kalonzo said that Odinga has the option of abiding by the terms of what he called a “binding legal agreement” or of choosing to act in utter defiance.
It was, however, unclear why the deal did not include other former Nasa alliance principals, notably Amani National Congress boss Musalia Mudavadi, Ford Kenya chief Moses Wetangula and Chama Cha Mashinani leader Isaac Ruto.
Odinga’s camp reacted with fury over the storm kicked up by Wiper leader, who cited a secret 2017 elections pact that he said bound the former Prime Minister to back him for the top job in August.
But the Odinga allies had one message: Musyoka to unconditionally board the Azimio train, or be left at the station.
