Wiper officials meet as pressure on Azimio talks mount

As speculations mount on the political future of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, his party officials are Monday meeting to deliberate on party affairs. 

Kalonzo, who is said to be out of the country on a private trip, has been blowing hot and cold on his political direction less than three months to the August 9 polls.  

Party officials privy to the agenda of the meeting at Stoni Athi in Machakos County said his fate in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition would also be discussed. 

But even as opinions are varied as to whether Kalonzo will stick to his guns and be on the ballot, his running mate Andrew Sunkuli says their bid remains on course. 

"We are on the ballot that is why we are here to represent my party leader who is out of the country," Sunkuli said.  

"Everybody is asking us to join them. I think we are an extremely attractive ticket but I want to assure the people of Kenya that we will be asking them for their votes."

Sunkuli spoke at the Bomas of Kenya where presidential aspirants were submitting to the IEBC the signatures of supporters backing their bids. 

Monday is the deadline set by the electoral agency for presidential candidates to submit the signatures of at least 2000 supporters in each of a majority of the counties.

The meeting at Stoni Athi comes amid mounting pressure for Kalonzo to make a decision on his position ahead of the August 9 General Election.

Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana on Friday last week urged the former VP to drop endless demands and rejoin Azimio.

Kibwana said that Wiper, together with other Ukambani parties supporting Azimio, would negotiate for development and inclusion in the Azimio government should the outfit win the August polls.

“Waita Nzioka, Charity Ngilu and I still welcome Wiper into Azimio. However, all the parties which are campaigning for the fifth in Ukambani will sit with the Candidate and his Deputy to agree on development and the face of government for the region,” Kibwana said.

Other than party officials, at least 500 aspirants are also attending the Stoni Athi meeting.  

The aspirants are torn between retaining the Azimio-branded campaign merchandise or printing new ones with Kalonzo as their presidential candidate.

Wiper has fielded 400 aspirants for the county assembly seats, 11 for governor, 22 for senator and 110 for National Assembly seats.

A majority of them had already printed campaign merchandise with Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s image, Azimio symbols, logos and colours prior to Kalonzo’s exit from the outfit on May 16 citing betrayal.

This was after Raila settled on Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua and his running mate. 

Kalonzo announced that he would be on the ballot as a presidential candidate and unveiled Sunkuli as his running mate. 

On Thursday last week, the Wiper leader posted photos on his Twitter handle herding cattle at his Kitui home with the caption, “time for reflection.”

Amid the mixed signals from Kalonzo, his allies have said Monday’s meeting would focus on the August election and Azimio matters.

The Nation quoted Wiper vice-chairman Mutula Kilonzo Jnr saying, “We need to consolidate and strategise how to keep competition away and campaign plan. I expect the Azimio issues will be brought up.”

The same paper quoted Kanu secretary general Nick Salat saying the party is pulling all stops to have Kalonzo drop his presidential bid and throw his weight behind Raila.

A section of political pundits has said Kalonzo is likely playing hardball in the knowledge that neither Raila nor Deputy President William Ruto of Kenya Kwanza will manage to garner 50 per cent plus one vote in round one.

They argue that Kalonzo’s decision to go for the presidency could be a move to grant him bargaining power in the event of a run-off.

The latest opinion polls by Tifa Research firm suggested that Raila and his running mate Martha Karua were the most popular presidential pair.

The survey released Wednesday last week showed that the Azimio team would garner 39 per cent of the votes while Ruto and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua would get 35 per cent.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka came a distant third with just two per cent of the respondents saying they would cast their vote in his favour at the August polls.

Going by the trajectory, none of the leading presidential contenders would garner the requisite votes to clinch the presidency in one round.

This, the pundits aver, is where the Kalonzo factor would come into play as his support for either side would guarantee them a win in a run-off.