• However, Kalonzo stares at a serious headache as he goes into the special meeting that could shape his 2022 chances.
• The former vice president has to decide whether to rally the NEC to endorse a break with Nasa and focus on strengthening OKA.
Image: JACK OWUOR
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka faces a tough balancing act on his presidential ambitions as the party’s top organ meets to decide on their Nasa coalition status.
The party is set to hold the National Executive Committee meeting Monday morning to decide on whether Wiper will pull out of Nasa to pave the way for a new alliance.
“You are kindly requested to attend a special virtual NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, July 26, 2021 at 10am. Agenda. Nasa Coalition,” a note sent out to NEC members by Wiper executive director Justine Kyambi read.
Wiper has joined Ford Kenya, Amani National Congress and Kanu to form the One Kenya Alliance, a vehicle they hope to use for next year’s general election.
Ford Kenya and ANC are members of Nasa alongside Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement and Isaac Rutto’s Chama Cha Mashinani.
Already, Musalia Mudavadi's ANC has ratified the decision to leave the coalition. Moses Wetangula’s ANC is still grappling with factional wrangles that could derail the process.
However, Kalonzo stares at a serious headache as he goes into the special meeting that could shape his 2022 chances.
The former vice president has to decide whether to rally the NEC to endorse a break with Nasa and focus on strengthening OKA. This will mean abandoning an alliance with Raila ahead of 2022.
He can also convince the meeting that the party stays in Nasa to team up with Raila’s ODM and betray the OKA cause which he helped shape.
Last Tuesday, OKA partners announced an ‘irreversible’ commitment to pull out of the opposition alliance to allow for the formation of a new outfit.
“As far as we are concerned, Nasa is part of our history,” the leaders said after a meeting in Karen.
Raila has been touted as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s preferred successor and is Deputy President William Ruto’s main opponent in the State House race.
Raila has not declared candidature in the country's top seat. The president has also not publicly announced his support for him.
Wiper bolting out of Nasa will spell the coalition’s death, a reality that will see Kalonzo’s key lieutenants lose influential and lucrative positions in Parliament.
Wiper national vice chairman Mutula Kilonzo Jr will lose the Minority whip position in the Senate while Kathiani MP Robert Mbui will forgo the deputy leader of the Minority seat in the National Assembly.
Other allies including the vocal Kitui Senator Enock Wambua could also lose committee leadership positions. Wambua is the vice-chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Wiper, alongside other Nasa partners, could also miss out on their push to get a share of the political party funds.
The principals have been pushing Raila to share the windfall.
Last Thursday, Raila and Kalonzo met over the issue, leading to the postponement of the Wiper NEC meeting that was scheduled for Friday.
“We have postponed the NEC to give the arbitration a chance. The two leaders are negotiating and we saw it fit to give them some time,” Mutula told the Star on Friday.
Quitting Nasa and abandoning Raila will also give the three Ukambani governors – Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) and Alfred Mutua (Makueni) – the impetus to work with Raila.
The three have been gravitating towards Raila and Kalonzo’s slip could provide a fertile ground for them to stretch their political muscles to neutralise his influence in the region.
During the President’s recent visit to the region, Kalonzo was caught flat footed when Raila landed to join the head of state in his development tours.
Later, Governor Mutua said the region’s governors had invited the former prime minister to the President’s events.
Last week, Ngilu, who has been pushing for a united Nasa to face the DP, was among the top politicians who held a closed-door strategy meeting with Raila in Mombasa.
Raila also met the President’s key allies including National Assembly Majority leader Amos Kimunya, CAS Rachel Shebesh, Nominated MP Maina Kamanda and Kieni MP Kanini Kega in what pundits say had the blessings of the head of state.
Kalonzo has said that he would be the most stupid person to support Raila in 2022. He was Raila’s presidential running mate in the 2013 and 2017 elections.
“For me, as of now, it is unthinkable that I would support Raila Odinga for the third time… I will be the most stupid fellow on earth to go and support for the third time without a measure of reciprocity,” he said last month.
However, with indications Raila could be Uhuru’s 2022 choice, Kalonzo would be going against the President whom he at one time pledged allegiance to.
In 2018, Kalonzo said he is the President’s mtu wa mkono (spanner boy). He’s currently Special Peace Envoy to South Sudan – an appointment by the President.