Opposition: expect a movement from Wednesday
Opposition parties will on Wednesday cement the formation of a national super alliance (NASA) that they said will beat President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2017 elections.
More than 4,000 people comprising elected leaders and those aspiring to run on the various political seats in 2017 will meet to coalesce around what they termed as a “huge opposition movement that will win the General Election”.
The leaders will be drawn from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Wiper Democratic Movement Party, Ford Kenya, Amani National Congress (ANC) and the Kenya African National Union (Kanu) will meet at the Bomas of Kenya in what will be the first semblance of the National Super Alliance (Nasa).
The alliance has been fronted by ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi and supported by ODM and Cord leader Raila Odinga.
NEW POLITICAL COURSE
Cord management co-chair James Orengo said that the meeting would be the start of a new political course.
“For about six months, we have been speaking about opposition unity,” Mr Orengo told journalists at the Bomas of Kenya when they inspected the venue of the meeting.
“On Wednesday, we are going to take a stand once and for all with a view to beating President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017.”
Mr Orengo was flanked by his fellow co-chairs Eseli Simiyu the Ford Kenya Secretary General and Dr Sakwa Bunyasi the Nambale MP allied to Mr Mudavadi’s ANC.
“This is a meeting that is going to bring the opposition together. It is part of an ongoing process of bonding and creating structures in response to dominant political challenges,” Mr Orengo said.
COLD FEET
Mr Orengo also laughed off claims that Baringo senator Gideon Moi-led Kanu had shown cold feet in the formation of the alliance.
Mr Moi had termed as personal Secretary General Nick Salat’s move to join Cord in street protest to call for the resignation of former IEBC commissioners.
“Kanu is not an individual,” Mr Orengo said. “Be assured that Kanu will be here and you are going to see them.”
It also remains unclear if Bomet governor Isaac Ruto of the Chama Cha Mashinani, who has shown a new-found camaraderie with the Mr Odinga-led opposition, will join the formation of Nasa.
“I will only join any coalition, including Nasa, if they agree with my own ideals,” said Governor Ruto in a recent interview.
Mr Mudavadi has been pushing for the formation of Nasa that he argues will be the only sure way to send the Jubilee team home in August.
