NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 17 – ONE Kenya Alliance (OKA) has declared it will field its own presidential candidate in the 2022 elections, dashing hopes of supporting former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The alliance of Musalia Mudavadi (Amani National Congress), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Gideon Moi (KANU) and Moses Wetangula of Ford Kenya said they will soon announce their flag bearer.
“We will soon announce our flag bearer,” said Senator Cleophas Malala of ANC after a retreat of the alliance at the Great Rift Valley Lodge.
The retreat was called after the leaders met President Uhuru Kenyatta in State House, Mombasa where he urged them to consider supporting Odinga.
The OKA leaders have remained committal that and upbeat that they have what it takes to mount a spirited campaign and ultimately garner the much-needed numbers that will send them to State House.
“We wish to register our deep sense of satisfaction with the progress we are making as One Kenya Alliance. We reaffirm that our commitment to building a just, inclusive and prosperous nation under the auspice of OKA is solidly on course,” they said in a statement read out by FORD Kenya’s Kitutu Chache MP Richard Onyonka.
During the meeting, the leaders resolved to roll out joint public engagement activities with the view of popularising the alliance.
“We will not only share our primary agenda of hope on the bedrock of an economic liberation but also demonstrate that in One Kenya Alliance, Kenyans have a unique opportunity to bestow their sovereign power on a responsible and trustworthy leadership,” Onyonka said.
With the isolation of Odinga from the equation seemingly clear, the OKA leaders said their ambition is anchored on “shared ideals of individual freedom, national unity, equal economic and social opportunities for all. ” We recognize that we carry the aspirations of millions of Kenyans who yearn for a responsive and reliable leadership bound by the rule of law”.
Odinga, who appears unfazed following his isolation on Tuesday also announced that his ODM Party will soon unveil its own political alliance.
On Tuesday, the ruling Jubilee party announced it will be seeking to seal a pre-election coalition with the ODM, in what affirms President Uhuru Kenyatta’s resolve to support former Odinga’s candidature for the presidency in 2022.
The announcement was made by Jubilee party Secretary General Raphael Tuju on Tuesday morning following a meeting of the National Management Committee (NMC) at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi.
“Following various high level consultations within the Jubilee Party that culminated in a joint NMC and Parliamentary leadership meeting, the NMC granted permission to the party secretariat to formally engage with the ODM party in drawing a framework agreement on a pre-election coalition agreement,” Tuju said.
With the political realignments taking shape in the country, Deputy President William Ruto who is seen as a frontrunner in the 2022 race has declared that he is ready to face his opponents whom he accused of ganging up against him.
Other presidential hopefuls like businessman Jimi Wanjigi, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, former Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Mukhisa Kituyi are yet to declare which alliance they will join.
Others like Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjri and Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua have committed to form an alliance to foster unity in the divisive Mt Kenya.
