Cord leader Raila Odinga went to Tanzania to strategise on the proposed referendum accompanied by co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula.
The three drove in a small convoy only accompanied by a few confidants into Ngorongoro National Park through the Namanga border.
Mr Odinga and his group left the country Sunday for the trip said to be mainly a house keeping retreat to discuss the referendum.
Thursday, Mr Wetang’ula declined to discuss the matter when the Nation contacted him only insisting: “It was top secret. I can’t talk about it.”
Though the rest of the Cord leadership returned on Tuesday, Mr Wetang’ula stayed for an extra day and came back on Wednesday.
Sources revealed that some of the leaders who accompanied them were Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and MPs Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) and Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren).
A few members of the Okoa Kenya Movement steering Cord’s referendum were also at the retreat.
“It was an internal opposition coalition retreat. I don’t want to divulge any details about the trip,” Dr Simiyu said when contacted.
The three leaders are said to have firmed up strategies drafted by their lieutenants largely touching on the referendum campaigns. This weekend, the campaign goes to the counties with Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka presiding over the collection of signatures in Nairobi, Kakamega and Migori.
A statement from Mr Odinga’s office stated that he would launch the exercise in Migori Town while Mr Musyoka would start the process in Embakasi.
The two events will be preceded by the official opening of the offices of the technical committee spearheading the referendum push in Lavington Friday.
The coalition will require support from at least 24 counties for the popular initiative to go through without a hitch.
Source-nation.co.ke
Raila holds secret talks on referendum in Tanzania
