NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 1- The much-anticipated signing of a deal that would see former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga might take longer, even as jittery grow among various political players.
The Wiper Party leader has stood his ground that there must be what he terms as structured dialogue before any deal can be inked.
But it is Tuesday’s move that is likely to throw a spanner in the works, after making it public his deal with the former Prime Minister.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2017 indicates that Odinga had committed to support him for the presidency, this time around, whether he won or not.
“My brother has the option of abiding by the terms of this live binding, legal Agreement and thereby emerging as a true, national, regional and indeed continental democratic hero,” Musyoka said on Tuesday, during a press conference.
“As we begin the fresh round of political negotiation in our country, I have been compelled to release this document due to the often-said statement that I am an indecisive kingmaker and that I would be a fool to support Raila Odinga for the third time.”
The former Vice President accused Odinga of failing to honour their 2017 coalition agreement under the National Super Alliance (Nasa).
The agreement was signed on April 30, 2017.
Interestingly, during the Jubilee National Delegate Conference (NDC), Musyoka made a passionate appeal to President Uhuru Kenyatta to lead the negotiations, in what political pundits say is an indication he does not trust Odinga.
The plan is to have the Musyoka led One Kenya Alliance (OKA) merge with the Azimio movement, which is likely to front Odinga as the presidential candidate.
ODM, like the Wiper party, has since endorsed Odinga as the sole presidential candidate.
“As already publicly expressed, I am ready to work with him again under the three pillar, grand coalition government, for the sake of our great nation. I urge that as we engage in fresh negotiations this document forms the basis for such negotiation,” Musyoka said.
“I urge political leaders and all leaders to remain true to their written commitments for this sets a good example to present and future generations. The NASA coalition should not have collapsed had the partner parties and in particular, ODM remained committed to the letter and spirit of the Coalition Agreement.
Initially, the deal was to be inked on Monday but Musyoka asked for more time.
Kitui Senator Enoc Wambua said ODM must honour the MoU.
“Kalonzo is no longer in the business of making kings. He is past that,” he said during an interview with Citizen Television.
Senator Olekina Ledama accused ‘extremist’ leaders around the Wiper leader of misleading him.
“In 2013, he deputized Raila Odinga and come 2017, Raila said he had only one bullet…out of a clean heart, my party leader (Musyoka) accepted. The bullet was fired but it missed the target,” Wambua said.
“It is no longer about Raila Odinga but the 50 million Kenyans. You cannot do the same thing all the time and expect different results.”
In OKA, Musyoka is working with NARC Kenya Martha Karua, Kenya African National Union (KANU) leader Gideon Moi and Charles Jirongo.
“This is a hostage crisis. They should stop holding Musyoka hostage,” Ledama said.
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