One Kenya Alliance (OKA) is experiencing turmoil due to what political pundits believe is being fueled by Musalia-Kalonzo’s political ego.
The bitter fight for the One Kenya Alliance presidential ticket between Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and Wiper party boss Kalonzo Musyoka is behind the failure by the coalition to name a flagbearer last week as it was initially panned.
On Friday, January 14, the entire OKA team was expected to retreat to Naivasha to consider a report by the OKA technical team on the modalities of identifying its flagbearer.
It is only Kalonzo, Gideon, and Wetangula who attended the Elementaita meeting in which Mudavadi was conspicuously missing.
“The agenda of unveiling a flagbearer and a running mate is an exclusive duty and reserve of OKA, we want to encourage the media to be patient…we are likely to unveil our candidate at the end of January. We still have time,” said Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula after they postponed naming their flagbearer.
At the Elementaita meeting, none of Musalia Mudavadi’s known associates was present including elected members of parliament a move that raised many speculations over ANC’s next move.
The absence by Mudavadi was seen as a protest to the recommendation of the OKA technical team on who am the four principals are most suitable to lead the coalition.
Its either Mudavadi or no one else-Malala
Kakamega Senator and ANC MPs questioned the modalities employed by the technical team saying that the team errored in settling on Kalonzo
Cleophas Malala a staunch ally of Mudavadi fired a warning to OKA by insisting on Mudavadi’s candidature as a bare minimum something that gives an insight into the troubles in OKA.
In an apparent reference to Kalonzo, Malala vowed that ANC will not support another candidate within OKA apart from Mudavadi.
“We want to tell them that it is a mall river that channels its waters to a gig river. It is not possible to be backing other people yet we are not backing our son,” Malala said in Kakamega.
Kalonzo Musyoka had emerged as the best candidate with Mudavadi being his running mate for the OKA ticket in the upcoming General Election.
Immediately after the Naivasha meeting, Kalonzo retreated to his backyard in Ukambani, where community leaders endorsed him for the presidency.
Speaking during the meeting at his Yatta farm in Machakos Kalonzo vowed to be on the ballot as a presidential candidate on August 9, 2022, General Election in his quest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“The time is now; this is the time. I am running for the President of the Republic of Kenya,” Kalonzo said.
Who will blink first?, Mudavadi or Kalonzo
With 203 days remaining to the General Election, the possibility of having an OKA candidate remains in the hands of Mudavadi and Kalonzo.
The unity of the One Kenya Alliance will be determined by who between Mudavadi and Kalonzo is willing to support the other for the OKA ticket all having vowed not to play a second fiddle.
Speaking on Sunday, January 16, in Nyamira County Mudavadi promised to make a political statement that will shake the political landscape of the country.
“January tutatoa msimamo ambao utaleta msisimko wa ardhi katika Kenay hii,” Mudavadi said.
The highly expected statement by Mudavadi of January 23, will either be a blessing to OKA or it might mark the end of OKA.
