While political commentators and onlookers speculate about Kalonzo Musyoka’s next political move, the Wiper party leader was tending to his household issues at his Yatta farm in Machakos County.
As he enjoys his brief sabbatical break, as he described it on Monday when announcing his decision to break ties with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party and declare his presidential bid on a Wiper party ticket, speculation abounds about whether his name will appear on the ballot paper in the State House election on August 9th.
Two months after joining the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party, sources at the Registrar of Political Parties told Citizen TV that Musyoka’s Wiper party has yet to formally ask to leave.
The coalition agreement, which Musyoka accepts, prohibits constituent parties from departing the coalition party six months before the general election or three months after the August elections.
Despite Musyoka’s claims that his and his running mate Andrew Sunkuli’s names were properly presented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for consideration to run in the presidential election, he must contend with the rigors of the Azimio coalition agreement, with the Registrar’s office insisting on due process being followed by any party opting out of a coalition.
Sources at the Registrar’s office claim it would be impossible for a constituent party in the coalition to field a presidential candidate now that Odinga has been named the Azimio coalition party’s flag bearer.
Wiper’s options have been narrowed to either seeking a court order to leave the coalition party or being discharged by the alliance’s council, chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, by mutual consent.
According to an IEBC source, commissioners were looking into the legal implications of Musyoka’s Wiper bid.
The electoral authority plans to hold a pre-nominations session for all of the cleared presidential candidates next week on Monday in the Bomas of Kenya.
Between May 28 and June 6, presidential candidates will present their nomination documents, and only those who are cleared will be entitled to run in the August election.
With time running out, KANU leader Gideon Moi has been tasked with persuading Musyoka to rejoin the Azimio party; Moi is said to have met Musyoka at his Yatta farm.
On Monday, the Wiper leader gave himself a chance to make a comeback if his issues were addressed.
“There is no animosity here; this is a brotherly competition.” But as time goes on, we’ll revisit our position,” Musyoka remarked at the time.
If Musyoka wins the presidency, Odinga will appoint him as Chief Minister, with responsibilities to coordinate and manage government functions.
Musyoka’s backers say that the position must be enshrined in the Azimio coalition agreement as a guarantee, in order to avoid post-election squabbles if he rejoins the fold.
