Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has dropped the clearest hint of the OKA-Azimio coalition for the August 9, General Election.
Speaking on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, during the signing of the deed assignment among One Kenya Alliance affiliate parties, Kalonzo said OKA is open to forming a coalition with like-minded parties and coalitions.
Answering a question, during the press briefing on the possibility of working with ODM leader Raila Odinga for the third time, Kalonzo said he and other principals in OKA are open to honest engagement with other parties.
“OKA principals, Gideon Moi, Martha Karua, and Cyrus Jirongo, and I are open to honest engagements with other political formations that share in our ideology,” Kalonzo said.
But when asked a similar question, on the possibility of working with Kenya Kwanza led by William Ruto, Kalonzo took a swipe at the Ruto’s alliance terming it “Kenya Kwisha”.
The Wiper leader indirectly ruled out working with the Ruto-Musalia-Wetang’ula axis pointing out that they differ in ideologies.
“Has Kenya Kwanza been registered? You talk about Kenya Kwisha,” Kalonzo said on the possibility of joining Kenya Kwanza.
In a clear reference to the Kenya Kwanza alliance, Kalonzo said, “We will not be partners with corruption ideologies.”
It should be noted that William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi, and Moses Wetang’ula’s partnership has been labeled as a coalition of corrupt leaders by their opponents.
Again it is no secret that Ruto-Mudavadi’s partnership was the major contributing factor in the move by Kalonzo and Gideon to terminate their political relationship with Musalia Mudavadi.
Kalonzo and Gideon find themselves in this position because Musalia dumped them for Deputy President William Ruto.
“Unfortunately, we have to part ways since some of his friends are not our friends and we are unsafe with them,” Kalonzo and Gideon said after storming out of Mudavadi’s ‘earthquake’ meeting.
What’s the possibility of Kalonzo joining Azimio.
Having signed the deed of agreement paving way for the formal registration of OKA as a coalition what remains is to see whether they will play the role of a third force in the August election.
Political pundits opine that the probability of having a Kalonzo-Gideon ticket is minimal, as the two cannot threaten DP Ruto or Raila Odinga.
While speaking on the Radio Citizen morning program, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna seemed to suggest that discussions on an OKA-Azimio partnership are ongoing.
One of the Wiper leaders’ allies, senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr has in a previous interview intimated of Kalonzo joining either Ruto or Raila.
“He has issues with both Raila and Ruto. Going alone will be guaranteed loss and joining any of them will require to step down all issues he has raised or step down if he can,” Mutula told The People daily.
In their press conference, they revealed that they have been approached for a possible alliance with various parties.
“There have been approaches, but we won’t open and transparent negotiations, but this will be after the parties under Oka have engaged its organs,” Kalonzo said.
Deputy President William Ruto’s party seems to be prepared for the OKA-Azimio alliance as their chairman Johnson Muthama called on OKA to join Azimio and stop taking Kenyans into circles.
Taking to Twitter UDA chair also claimed that One Kenya Alliance will ultimately join hands with Azimio la Umoja.
“We know the end result of this poker game. One Kenya Alliance is Azimio and Azimio is One Kenya Alliance. Let us stop the charade,” Muthama wrote on Twitter.
Will Kalonzo swallow his pride and support Raila for the third time, or will he be adamant not to be stupid as he has previously said? Only time will tell.
