Cracks are emerging in NASA over the choice of presidential flag bearer despite an agreement to pick the candidate by consensus.
Hardline supporters of the four alliance leaders are talking tough and sounding inflexible.
The four are Raila Odinga (Cord, ODM), Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya), Musalia Mudavadi (Amani) and Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper).
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho told NASA hopefuls to support Raila but Amani’s Bungoma secretary general said the party will withdraw from the alliance if Mudavadi is not declared flag bearer.
In an exclusive interview with the Star on Tuesday, Martin Waliaula said Raila was not ‘sellable’ and that choosing him would grant Jubilee an easy victory.
“Raila is the Jubilee candidate in NASA. Jubilee are praying and even willing to influence him to become the NASA flag bearer so that they can win in the early morning,” he said.
“My view, which is shared by millions of others, is that Jubilee has two presidential candidates — President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila. We have voted for Raila in the past and you know the results.”
He added that Raila was a great kingmaker, but that kingmakers never become kings.
Waliaula said Joho and Oburu Odinga, Raila’s brother, were wrong to say he was best suited to face off with Uhuru and that their statement was ill-timed.
He said all the principals and supporters including Joho should remember Mudavadi is the best compromise candidate.
“This is not the time to throw ultimatums in the NASA line-up deliberations,” he said. “No one goes into an election to lose. Only a fool does the same things every time and expect different results.”
Waliaula further said Mudavadi did not join NASA but was sought out in Los Angeles during the Democratic Convention of 2016.
“If Cord didn’t consider Musalia a force they wouldn’t have gone to look for him,” he said.
The official added that NASA was Mudavadi’s brainchild and that Cord adopted the idea because it made sense.
Source link-the-star.co.ke
Raila is kingmaker, will never be king, Amani official says
