NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 25 – Wiper Party has nominated its leader Kalonzo Musyoka to run for the presidency in next year’s presidential election.
Kalonzo was nominated during the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) held at Kasarani, Nairobi. The NDC was attended by top leaders from the Orange Democrat Movement (ODM), the ruling Jubilee Party as well as his co-principals in the One Kenya Alliance (OKA).
“I accept your nomination as wiper presidential candidate. I am proud to be the leader of a party that has come of age,” Kalonzo said in his acceptance speech.
“I will unify this country. My life has always been to ensure there is unity in this country.”
In a five-point agenda, Musyoka defended his quest to become the fifth President of Kenya, in a race that has attracted several presidential aspirants.
The hallmark of his pledge to Kenyans free secondary education across the country, which he termed as an “equalizer in the society.”
“As a president I will ensure that secondary education is totally free. Parents don’t have to struggle paying fees,” said Musyoka.
The Wiper leader who is eyeing the presidency vowed to fight corruption in the country.
He lamented that the nation is in an impoverished state due to huge public debt which was mainly lost to corruption.
“In my government there will be no room for the corrupt. They will be all put in jail and the money they stole returned to public coffers,” Musyoka assured.
ODM leader Raila Odinga described Kalonzo as a reliable leader, recalling their times in Kenya’s oldest party KANU.
“We have been with Kalonzo for a long time since the days of KANU. I say congratulations to Kalonzo for being nominated as the party presidential flag bearer,” Odinga said.
The Wiper leader used his 32-year tenure in government as well as track record under the leadership of former President Mwai Kibaki where he served as a Vice President to boost his presidential quest.
He promised to create a 24-hour economy in the country that is aimed at achieving a double-digit growth of the economy in line with vision 2030.
“Over eight years ago, we almost achieved double digit growth levels with Vision 2030, with the year 2010 marking a high point of GDP growth of 8.4%. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, our 24-hour-economy plan with three shifts of 8 hours each – an additional 16 hours to our conventional working day,” said Musyoka.
Musyoka further promised to renegotiate the huge public debt taken by previous regimes.
“We cannot expect to grow an economy by taxing an already overburdened population. With similar zeal, my administration will go through each public debt letter-by-letter, word-for-word, line-by-line with the intention of renegotiating all public debt instruments signed on your behalf,” Musyoka said.
In his administration, Kalonzo vowed to recover stolen public resources through rampant corruption saying it will be a thing of the past.
“More importantly, we will decisively and aggressively pursue all the corrupt with the same zeal with which they emptied our coffers. We will get back what is rightfully yours,” said Musyoka.
The delegates present at the NDC drawn from 1,450 wards also ratified new officials approved by the National Executive Council (NEC).
The congress ratified Steve Musyoka (party leader), Farah Maalim(Deputy party leader), Ali Makwere (National Chairman).
It also approved an extension of four vice chairpersons with Mutula Kilonzo Jnr being the vice chairperson incharge of Policy and Communication while Swanya Victor Ogeto will be in charge of strategy and planning, Hamsa Ole Kamwaro will be in charge of operations and Ann Kanyi will take over Social matters and welfare.
Former Lamu Woman Representative Shakilla Abdalla was appointed the new Secretary General taking over from Judith Sijeny who was appointed as an ambassador to The Nerthelands. She will be deputized by Makueni MP Hon Daniel Maanzo and Wundayi MP Dan Mwashakho in equal capacity.
Other new national officials include Gideon Mulyungi (Treasurer), Zakir Mohammed (Deputy Treasurer), Nzambi Thaddeus(Deputy Treasurer), Robert Mbui (Organising Secretary) Jessica Mbalu (Deputy organizing Secretary), Njiru Ndwiga (Deputy organizing Secretary), Maj Marcus Mutua Muluvi (Director of election), Jane Mwasya (Deputy director election), Ben Momanyi(Deputy director election).
Wiper NDC also ratified to change the party name to Wiper Democratic Movement dropping the Kenya tag. It also changed the motto to “one people, one nation” as well as the party colours.
