Cotu boss Francis Atwoli has blasted Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka over his demands that he must be Raila Odinga’s running mate in the August polls.
Speaking in Kakamega on Saturday, April 17, Atwoli called on Kalonzo to concentrate on campaigning for the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition than making unwarranted demands.
According to the vibrant unionist, Kalonzo’s demands can make one doubt his commitment to the coalition.
“I know Kalonzo as an important figure in the coalition and he should focus on building confidence and make people vote for the coalition. Too many conditions will make someone who was to give him deputy president position think twice,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli called on Kalonzo to find ways of engaging the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition’s key partners, Raila or President Uhuru Kenyatta, directly if he has a burning issue rather than doing it through the media or his allies.
Sentiments by the COTU boss come after Kalonzo Musyoka and his allies insisted the Wiper leader be named Raila Odinga’s running mate in the forthcoming polls.
Addressing journalist recently, Kalonzo appeared to rule out any discussion on the position a move that has caused discomfort among certain Azimio affiliated parties.
“Let us not talk about the obvious. From now henceforth, I think we should avoid discussing the obvious,” Kalonzo said.
Over the weekend MP Dan Maanzo a close ally of the Wiper leader also said that Wiper supporters will only vote for the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition if Kalonzo is named Raila’s running mate.
“Our position as the Wiper party is that the deputy president should be from our party and should be one Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and at the moment that does not happen, we’ve already started sensitizing our followers that we shall only vote for the Azimio presidential candidate if our party leader appears in the ballot paper,” the legislator said.