On the same day that interviews for the running partner of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition flagbearer began, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka submitted his name as a presidential candidate.
Mr Musyoka stood before the panel interviewing contenders to replace Mr Raila Odinga the next day.
Wiper’s name was submitted in response to an instruction from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to amend nomination lists in order to meet the two-thirds gender norm. The party’s National Elections Board head Agatha Solitei signed the letter delivering the list of Wiper aspirants dated May 9.
During the National Delegates Convention (NDC) held in the Kasarani gymnasium on November 25, 2021, the Wiper party endorsed Mr Musyoka as its presidential candidate. The IEBC received the name of Mr Musyoka’s running companion, Narok senate candidate Andrew Sunkuli, on Monday.
While the name was accepted, other underlying problems, such as Mr Musyoka’s eligibility despite Wiper’s coalition arrangement with Azimio, will be addressed during the clearance stage, according to an IEBC source.
“Accepting (a name) is clerical, so the staff will sit down and think on it,” the IEBC official explained.
“The name of my PL (party leader) as a Wiper presidential nominee was provided to IEBC a long time ago in compliance with the commission’s deadlines,” Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, a close supporter of Mr Musyoka, said. He also expressed confidence that Mr Musyoka’s name will appear on the ballot.
Mischief
“Nothing short of malice would keep this ticket from making it all the way to the vote box.” “As a party, we are fully prepared to win the presidential election on August 9, 2022,” the Kitui senator stated.
“My PL (party leader) as a Wiper presidential nominee was provided to IEBC a long time ago in compliance with the commission’s regulations,” Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, a close supporter of Mr Musyoka, said. Mr Musyoka’s name would be on the ballot, he added.
Mischief
“Nothing short of treason would prevent this ticket from making it all the way to the vote box.” The Kitui senator stated, “As a party, we are sufficiently equipped to win the presidential election on August 9, 2022.”
Ms Nderitu has already decided that parties affiliated with the Azimio coalition can only resign six months before the August election and three months afterward. Wiper was one of the parties that created Azimio, according to the registrar, not One Kenya Alliance, as some Wiper leaders claimed.
“They’ve always been in Azimio,” says the narrator. If they weren’t in Azimio, how could he (Kalonzo) state he wished to be nominated as a running mate? “Those are just the normal political stories, but what matters is that we follow the law,” Ms Nderitu said.
It was unclear yesterday whether Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, who attended Mr Musyoka’s inauguration on Monday, would support the Wiper leader if he received the presidential nomination.
However, Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat downplayed such ideas, stating that the independence movement was committed to remaining in Azimio.
“Our party chairman may have only met Kalonzo in his personal position as Gideon Moi, not as Kanu, because Kanu is a party with its own set of rules. And if Kanu wants to leave Azimio, he must follow certain procedures. “You don’t just wake up one morning and decide to leave,” he explained.
Read: Kalonzo flees Azimio over Karua’s choice of running mate
Mr Musyoka’s decision to run for president has already splintered the Ukambani region, with the Young Wiper Democrats coming out strongly in support of his decision. On the same day, a group led by governors Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), and Machakos governor aspirant Nzioka Waita (Chama Cha Uzalendo) called a meeting in Machakos to
The Azimio Executive Director Raphael Tuju was present in a meeting of aspirants from the three Ukambani counties, which delivered the message that the Kamba community was firmly with Azimio.
“We are not here to cause harm to anyone.” Prof Kibwana stated, “The problem is about our community and how the country will move forward.” He emphasized the importance of the community rallying behind Azimio in order for him to be elected to the next government. He claimed Mr Musyoka was duped by “three young individuals,” whom he could not identify.
Prof Kibwana added, “The message to Stephen is that we are in Azimio… please come back while there is still time.”
“I have sat at the President’s right hand,” Mr Waita remarked. It’s a significant deal to be granted 20% of the government.”
Read: No-show Kalonzo gets top billing in Raila’s possible cabinet
He claimed the deal includes, among other things, expanding the road from Kyumbi to Machakos and Nairobi to Tala, as well as 500 kilometers of tarmac between Makueni and Kitui.
A proposal for governor Ngilu, Kibwana, and Mr Waita to lead Mr Odinga’s regional campaigns was also approved.
Ms Ngilu stated that providing water to the people of the region was her main requirement for joining Azimio.
“From now on, we shall not sleep until the seat is delivered. Raila has been a friend of ours,” she stated.
Moses Nyamori, Justus Ochieng’, Collins Omullo, and Stephen Muthini contributed reporting.
