Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi has played down the lull in the One Kenya Alliance he is crafting together with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and Kanu leader Gideon Moi.
He told Radio Jambo on Wednesday that they are still holding talks to cobble a formidable coalition that would give 2022 frontrunners Raila Odinga of ODM and Deputy President William Ruto a run for their money.
“The talks are ongoing. Once bitten twice shy. We have not closed the conversations. We are also reaching out to other Kenyans,” the Amani leader said.
He urged anxious Kenyans who have been pressing the team to declare their stance in the next poll to hold their breath.
“The talks have to be amicable. We are giving each other time. The deadline for coalition agreement would be March,” Musalia said.
Pointing that the trend is not new, the ANC boss asked Kenyans to give the OKA chiefs more time adding that the campaigns each is conducting shouldn’t worry anyone.
He cited the events in 2002 when Narc name its candidate at the tail end of the presidential campaigns, as well as Cord in 2013 and Jubilee in 2017.
“Give us time. When I sell ANC, I promote myself and my party. The same is the case of Kalonzo, Weta, and Gideon. We will get to a point of consensus,” the former Vice President said.
On the running mate question, Musalia said the options are open.
“We are still talking. We must tell Kenyans everyone has a chance and a running mate can come from anywhere,” he said.
Dismissing assertions that OKA could be a still-birth, the ANC leader said, “There is a momentum that is building. The history of Kenya and coalitions are different. Let’s stop this issue of rushing.”
The Amani leader said he was not worried about perceptions that the President Uhuru Kenyatta succession would be a two-horse race between Raila and Ruto.
“I am not worried. I will concentrate on selling my policies. This issue of a two-horse race doesn’t apply. If we say that some of us are wasting our time, we are not helping ourselves.”
Asked about which side he would back in case of a run-off, Musalia said Kenyans would decide the country’s next president.
“We are marching on. Let Kenyans decide. Ask Raila and Ruto too whom they will support in a run-off.”
He further dismissed claims that the OKA chiefs were being whipped to support Raila, assertions that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka had also denied.
Edited by D Tarus
