The One Kenya Alliance (OKA) principals have finally signed a deal officially declaring the alliance as a coalition ahead of registration with the registrar of political parties.
Gidon Moi (KANU), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Martha Karua (Narc-Kenya), and Cyrus Jirongo of the United Democratic Party (UDP) signed a deal on Friday, March 11, at Villa Rosa Kempinski, Nairobi.
This happened just a day prior to Azimio la Umoja’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) that will be held on Saturday, March 12, bringing to an end the speculations that the coalition was disintegrating.
The signing of the pre-election coalition paves way for the outfit to field one presidential candidate in the August 9 General Election meaning that OKA cannot join other coalitions such as Raila’s Azimio la Umoja or Kenya Kwanza fronted by Deputy President William Ruto.
However, the individual parties in OKA can only ink a pre-election deal with Kenya Kwanza or the One Kenya Alliance.
OKA principals have committed their allegiance to the Alliance even as it emerged that disgruntlement is brewing over the Azimio-OKA deal due to mistrust.
Speaking after the signing of the deal, Kalonzo said as a party they had made sacrifices before and would make more sacrifices if need be.
“We have no doubt in our minds that this country is more important than any of us. We have made sacrifices before and we are ready to make more sacrifices but we also expect that Kenyans you know that no individual is indispensable,” Kalonzo said.
The signing was to occur last week but Narc Kenya Martha Karua pleaded for more time to scrutinize the coalition agreement.
“The National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved that it needs more time to familiarize and scrutinize the Coalition Agreement and related documentation,” said Michael Orwa, Narc Kenya’s secretary-general.