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

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka is still in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition, Jubilee Party deputy chairman David Murathe has asserted.

Murathe stated on Sunday that he believes Kalonzo joined the coalition voluntarily.

He explained that under the coalition agreement, affiliate parties can only leave the alliance six months before and three months after the election.

“Kalonzo is still in Azimio because that agreement says you cannot get out of it six months to the election and three months after the election. The reason for that is because in the event of a run off, you cannot pledge allegiance to the other formation,” Murathe told NTV.

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

“It will be desirable to have Kalonzo in Azimio because that says Ukambani votes is locked for the block because Ngilu is in, Kivutha is in most of the leadership in lower eastern is in.”

However, the Jubilee vice chair stated that Azimio principals are okay with Kalonzo’s decision to run for the presidency in the upcoming polls.

“I believe Kalonzo is in Azimio to stay voluntarily. He’s not being forced. I also know the principals in Azimio have agreed in principle that if he should want to quit or run as a presidential candidate on a Wiper ticket, they have no problem with that,” Murathe stated.

Murathe did, however, note that Kalonzo will lose the polls because he needs more than just his community to win.

Read Also: Mutua, Kingi’s Azimio Exit Is Of No Consequence – Murathe

“In 2007, if Kalonzo had decided to stick with either Mwai Kibaki or Raila Odinga we would have probably not had the dispute that led to the post election violence.”

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.

Meanwhile, Kalonzo is set to hold a meeting with Wiper officials and at least 500 aspirants at Stoni Athi Resort in Machakos County.

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

The meeting takes place as the deadline approaches for presidential candidates to produce the necessary signatures to sustain their campaigns.

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.

While today’s meeting is intended to strategize on a Wiper winning formula, Azimio issues will also be handled, intimated party vice-chairman Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.

“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,” Kilonzo told the Nation.

Read Also: Kalonzo Submitted Presidential Bid To IEBC Before April 28 Deadline

Dan Maanzo, Makueni MP, confirmed the Wiper aspirants meeting but remained tight-lipped on the agenda.

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.

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.