Wiper Leaders Vote To Have Kalonzo Return to Azimio

The Wiper party has called for more talks with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya alliance to resolve the current impasse.

Wiper-Kenya party organizing secretary Robert Mbui said there was still an opportunity for dialogue with Azimio after a leadership gathering in Machakos County that drew over 500 aspirants.

Mbui stated that Wiper could be beneficial in any position in the Azimio government.

“We want to be part of the new Kenya going forward but we need structured discussions as what is being offered are only in the media. We want Azimio to know that the issue is about Wiper as a party, and not as people have made it to be,” he said. 

Read: Kalonzo is Still in Azimio – Murathe Says As Wiper Leader Meets Aspirants

Kalonzo has been under pressure to make a decision on his position, with several professionals drawn from Ukambani claiming that his inaction was sending contradictory messages to the public.

The former vice president should make the right decision, according to Green Thinking Action Party chairman Isaac Kalua, because many people in Ukambani rely on him.

“Even if they are few or many, there are people who rely on him. He should decide whether to be in Azimio and unite all leaders there and if he has other plans, he should do that so that leaders can make the right decision. This delay makes the public lack direction and causes unnecessary anxiety,” Dr Kalua said.

The meeting took place ahead of the IEBC deadline for presidential candidates to produce the necessary signatures to sustain their campaigns.

Read Also: Wiper’s Kaloki to Back Raila’s Presidential Bid After Kalonzo Ditched Azimio

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set today as the deadline for presidential candidates to submit completed supporter forms with the names, signatures, identity cards, or passport numbers of at least 2,000 voters in each county.

“We’ve not met after the primaries. We need to consolidate and strategise how to keep competition away and campaign plan. I expect the Azimio issues will be brought up,” Mutula Kilonzo jnr told the Nation.

Some hopefuls, particularly those outside the three Ukambani counties of Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni, told the daily that they have been compelled to halt printing of campaign materials until Kalonzo “makes up his mind.”

Simultaneously, contenders who planned to ride the Azimio wave in areas where Wiper is not popular are concerned about probable antagonism in their campaigns.

Read Also: Ngilu Faults Kalonzo for Ditching Azimio, Being Selfish

Wiper has 400 candidates running for county assembly seats, 11 for governor, 22 for senator, and 110 for seats in the National Assembly.

Nairobi deputy governor candidate Philip Kaloki is also caught in the middle of the drama. Prof Kaloki was fronted for the role by Wiper and could be a victim if the party is forced to leave the coalition.

Kalonzo decamped from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance on Monday last week citing betrayal by outfit’s flagbearer Raila Odinga.

Raila had just named Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua as his running mate, a position the former vice president believed should have been his. As a result, Kalonzo said he would be taking a stab at the presidency with Andrew Sunkuli as his deputy.

Kalonzo is on a personal trip to London. His running mate earlier today submitted the voter signatures, an indication that he (Kalonzo) might not be returning to Azimio.