We’re united and still in State House race, say OKA leaders

One Kenya Alliance (OKA) has denied claims that some of its principals have signed backdoor deals with either Deputy President William Ruto or ODM leader Raila Odinga on the August 9 General Election.

In a joint press briefing at a Nairobi hotel yesterday, Kanu chairperson Gideon Moi, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, Ford- Kenya’s  Moses Wetang’ula and United Democratic Party’s (UDP) Cyrus Jirongo said they had not received any invite, either formally or informally, to join any other political outfit.

The five OKA principals said they would soon retreat to receive a technical committee’s report that will help them pick their presidential flag bearer.  

Mr Mudavadi was categorical that Deputy President William Ruto did not contact him before attending the finals of a football tournament organised by Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala on December 31 last year.

Deputy President William Ruto, while attending the Cleophas Malala Cup finals in Kakamega County, informed the residents that he had spoken with the ANC leader. The DP further claimed Mr Mudavadi had cleared him to grace the occasion.

But Mr Mudavadi dismissed the DP’s claim, arguing that he had no authority to give anyone permission to visit any part of the country. The ANC leader said he would always defend the “constitutional right of every Kenyan when it comes to freedom of association”.

“When I meet anybody, I will tell you. I will not keep it a secret. It will be obvious. I will meet with whoever I want to meet, and I will make it public,” he said.

Mr Musyoka refuted claims that he was warming up to ODM leader Raila Odinga, clarifying that he last spoke with the former Prime Minister on November 24 last year, on the eve of Wiper’s delegates conference.

“How can you flirt with someone you do not talk to?” he posed.

Mr Musyoka asked Kenyans not to listen to those insisting that the elections scheduled for August this year will be a two-horse race between DP Ruto and Mr Odinga.

“Attempts have been made to run down OKA principals…These attempts must end and let us give Kenyans hope that in 2022, they will have a government of their choice. I urge you in all humility to run away from this two-horse mentality,” he said.

Senator Moi clarified that his party was not planning to leave OKA but would be involved in the alliance’s plan on forming the next government.

“Kanu is in Jubilee in this present government, but what we are working for is for Kanu to be in OKA in the next government,” he said.

Poured cold water on speculation

Mr Wetang’ula described OKA as a formidable team with a clear vision and clarified that he had not been invited for any talks by other political outfits.

“I have not received any formal or informal invitation from anybody with regard to political activities. I am a member of OKA, the coalition of the willing,” the Ford Kenya leader said.

Mr Wetang’ula poured cold water on speculation that the aim of the alliance is to force a run-off in the State House race, adding that OKA is keen on winning the forthcoming elections and forming the next government.

“Nobody, in his right frame of mind, will join a race to precipitate a situation. We have only joined the race to win,” he said.

The OKA leaders spoke just days after United Democratic Alliance secretary-general Veronica Kimani informed the Nation that they had sent invitation letters to both the ANC and Ford-Kenya leaders to meet with DP Ruto for talks with a view to forming a coalition.

Ms Kimani did not comment on the matter when the Nation reached out to her.

The OKA principals expressed support for legislation underway to pave the way for coalition parties, but vowed to resist any attempts to introduce overreaching regulation of political parties.

They were speaking in reference to the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to have parties declare their coalition agreements months before a general election.

The Bill, which was tabled in Parliament late last year, is being viewed as a ploy to force OKA to side with either DP Ruto or ODM leader Raila Odinga.

“OKA knows what it is doing. It knows what is right for it. We will not be cajoled into sprinting when we know we are running a marathon,” Wetang’ula said.

Mr Jirongo urged MPs to carefully analyse the controversial bill and ensure that whatever they pass as law will be good for Kenyans.

“We call upon members of Parliament to exercise sobriety in the ongoing debate (Political Parties (Amendment) Bill 2021) and urge them to shun any short-term, partisan and parochial interests and consider the interests of the people of Kenya first,” Mr Jirongo said.

He said MPs should instead focus on empowering the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to conduct free, fair, credible and verifiable elections, he added.

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