It's time for Cord to bite the bullet.
However, despite growing pressure, widening fissures and a ticking clock, the opposition has not decided how to select its presidential flag-bearer
With 359 days to the elections, Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka yesterday said the opposition hasn't figured out how and when to choose the candidate. The decision and method are crucial to prevent Cord's disintegration.
While Cord dithers, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto are on a roll with their new Jubilee Party, announced last week at State House itself.
"I don't know, we are still consulting," the Wiper leader told the Star yesterday in response to a question.
Cord's promised survey by foreign experts of the best candidate to take on Uhuru and its promised nationwide popularity poll have not materialised.
Cord leader and ODM chief Raila Odinga, Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula and Musyoka all want to be President. Raila has said he would back whoever can decisively defeat President Uhuru Kenyatta.
There's talk of secret meetings and a plan by Wetang'ula and Musyoka to force Raila to back them. They deny any plot.
Musyoka also said he has no idea when the coalition's three co-chairmen — Senators James Orengo (Siaya), Johnson Muthama (Machakos) and Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu — will settle on the selection method.
The three head the technical team that is to come up with the fairest and best way to select the Cord presidential candidate. They were to hand over a work report last week but that was put off as they also sit on the Joint Select Committee on the IEBC.
Last month, Wiper chairman David Musila gave the Cord co-principals a 30-day ultimatum to name the coalition's candidate.
"Bite the bullet!" he said.
"People want to know who's our candidate. We have had enough of this walking and dancing together. Now that everyone has declared their candidature, at the latest August this year, we want to know who will be Cord's presidential candidate."
Kalonzo, Raila and Wetang'ula are also under pressure from Jubilee to name their man.
Deputy President Ruto has been mocking Cord over indecision in naming a candidate.
Members of the three parties forming the coalition have been piling pressure on the co-principals to make up their collective mind or minds and name their man.
Lack of a single candidate has been cited as one reason Cord has not fared well in recent opinion polls.
The coalition earlier had indicated it would hire foreign experts to conduct a survey among the three co-principals and pick the most popular candidate. It hasn't happened.
Cord was to conduct countrywide survey to inform the coalition which of the three hopefuls has the best chance against Uhuru. It hasn't happened.
There is already an elaborate plan dividing the country into battle zones, Jubilee turf and "safe" areas. And another plan to avert a falling out over acrimonious nominations and boardroom negotiations.
All that's missing is the candidate.
Raila, Kalonzo and Wetang’ula each has been endorsed by their parties to seek the Cord presidential ticket.
Finding the best selection formula is thorny and complicated.
The popularity and preference survey was also establish the best-rated joint ticket combination most likely to defeat the Uhuru-Ruto ticket.
The selection method holds the key to the coalition's future, analysts and opposition insiders say. Each co-principal is keen to devise a method that prevents fragmentation.
Wetang'ula has already said Raila should step aside for a younger, stronger candidate.
Kalonzo and Wetang'ula have been meeting secretly, but not very discretely, giving rise to claims they are conspiring against Raila. The idea being to persuade or compel him to give up his presidential ambitions for a second time.
Kalonzo dismissed as "unfounded falsehoods" speculation he and Wetang'ula are crafting a strategy to make Raila support them and assume the role of elder statesman.
"I am aware of the conspiracy claims but they are all lies. Cord principals meet every time to consult. We are united as Cord to send home this Jubilee government that has only excelled in tribalism and epic corruption," Kalonzo told the Star.
Still, Kalonzo and Wetang'ula are said to be pushing Raila to honour the December 4, 2012, pre-election pact that named Raila as the coalition's presidential candidate in 2013. The MoU named Kalonzo and Wetang'ula as presidential candidates for 2017 and 2022, respectively. Raila has said the deal is void.
It has been claimed the two want to declare themselves the presidential candidate and running mate and compel Raila to support and rally his troops behind them.
Kalonzo and Wetang'ula met late last month at Kalonzo’s Yatta home in Machakos county and in early July at the home of Mavoko MP Patrick Makau.
Jubilee leaders have also been pushing Cord to decide, painting its irresolution as emblematic of a confused outfit unsure of its future.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen yesterday said Cord should announce its presidential ticket to set the stage well in advance of the polls.
"The time is now to name their candidate so
Kenyans can start deciding. We already know Uhuru will lead the way for Jubilee. We wait and see what Cord will come up with," he said.