Mudavadi, Kalonzo vow to work with Gideon Moi to unite Kenya

ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka have vowed to work with Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, to unite the country.

The two leaders who are part of the One Kenya Alliance spoke on Thursday, at the Bomas of Kenya, after Gideon was endorsed by the independence party to become its presidential candidate in the 2022 General Elections.

According to Mudavadi, the stand Kanu has taken on issues affecting the country is the one they will follow in the quest to unite and develop Kenya.

"Hotuba ya Gideon ni hotuba ambayo inalenga mbele, inazungumza kuhusu shida za wakenya, kupigana na ufisadi, elimu, maisha ambayo ni haba kwa wakenya na mimi nasimama naye tukisema tuko tayari kushikana mikono tuweke wakenya mbele na sisi tufuate. Tutazidi, kuongea, kushauriana na kujadiliana… lengo letu ni Kenya inawiri," he said.

This loosely translates to, "Gideon's speech is focused on the future, it talks about challenges facing Kenyans including; corruption, education and poor quality of life and I stand with him. we are ready to work together and prioritise the lives of Kenyans. Our aim is to see Kenya grow and we will continue having conversations on the same."

Kalonzo said that he will walk the journey they started under OKA with Gideon, adding that the alliance is an embodiment of the handshake as it has brought several leaders together. 

He assured the Baringo senator that he will stick with him even if everybody else leaves the alliance because he knows Gideon would do the same for him.

"Let's have our eyes open, the journey has started," Kalonzo said. 

The OKA principals also congratulated Gideon for joining the club of leaders who have been nominated by their parties to be their presidential flag bearers in next year's General Elections.

Mudavadi called on media houses to not get ahead of themselves, insisting that the alliance knows the timelines set for unveiling a presidential candidate and they will meet them.

“We have been incessantly mocked on when OKA will unveil its presidential candidate. We know the deadlines set by IEBC and we will meet them. There is therefore no need to shuttle us into mistakes,” he said.

On Thursday, Kanu delegates unanimously endorsed party chairman Gideon Moi as their presidential candidate.

The more than 3,000 delegates also gave Gideon a go ahead to engage like-minded individuals ahead of 2022.

The Kanu NDC was also attended by former PM Raila Odinga who said that political competition is a great way to strengthen democracy, adding that there must also be tolerance, amongst political parties.

Raila also reminisced of his past relations with the party, including the time he served as its secretary general.

“The strength of our democracy is the strength of the political parties that we have in our country. There must be tolerance among political parties. Political competition is healthy in our country because it strengthens our democracy and that’s the best way to make our country grow and prosper,” he said.