The question of who becomes Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s running mate has become a sore thumb in Azimio la Umoja One Coalition.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila have tasked a small team of lieutenants to assist in identifying the right person from the 26 constituent members of the coalition to be the running mate in the August poll.
The five-member team, which consists of technocrats and politicians, is operating outside the coalition’s known structures and is supposed to develop data that will guide the alliance in picking the person to deputise Odinga should he form the next government.
This move will tame Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s demand on DP’s demand which he has in recent days declared his interest ahead of the polls.
“We are eyeing the running mate position. We don’t want to talk about the obvious,” Musyoka said during the launch of the Wiper People Living with Disabilities organ in Nairobi.
While saying he could speculate on the team, Musyoka yesterday insisted that he deserves the position.
“That issue has not been resolved. But clearly having dropped my presidential ambition – and by the way, I was very ready – it is a legitimate expectation that I should be the running mate.
Even then, it has not been decided. It has not even been discussed,” Musyoka said.
Musyoka yesterday asked the church to pray for him as he battles for the running mate slot in the Azimio la Umoja Movement.
Kalonzo claimed some people are conspiring round the clock to lock him out of the number two post as the Raila Odinga-led outfit seeks to form the next government.
“They are busy conspiring who will be running mate and who will not be running mate. Please help them to change and know that what God has determined no human being will stop it,” he said.
Former Nairobi County speaker Beatrice Elachi has today told off Kalonzo over what she claimed was dragging the ODM Party leader into an agreement that he was not part of.
In an interview with a local television, Elachi said the negotiation between Kalonzo and Kenyatta did not involve Raila.
“Kalonzo sat with the President and negotiated and not with the former Prime Minister,” Elachi said. She questioned the agreement between Kalonzo and the President.
“Kalonzo said he cannot negotiate with Raila and so he negotiated with the President. What was this agreement you had with the President? You are dragging Raila into something he was never part of,” Elachi said.
Elachi said Kalonzo ought to have joined the Azimio la Umoja coalition with clean hands and work harmoniously to ensure Raila becomes the next president, instead of clinging to the running mate debate.
Others linked to the position are Karua, Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Murithi, his Nakuru colleague Lee Kinyanjui and former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth.
Murithi and Kinyanjui, however, do not appear keen on the position and have concentrated their efforts on getting re-elected as governors.
Agriculture Cabinet secretary Peter Munya’s name had also been mentioned but the fact that he did not resign from his government position by February 9 when public officials intending to participate in the forthcoming elections were required to have quit complicates his candidacy.