The Wiper Party has challenged Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko to consider ditching the Jubilee coalition and seek the party’s nomination in the next General Election.
Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said Mr Sonko was welcome “home”, as the party repositions itself to unseat the Jubilee coalition in the 2017 election.
He said the opening of a branch office in Nairobi, alongside its headquarters in Lavington, was a clear testimony they were committed to their political cause, and they will not be derailed by sideshows.
Mr Musyoka said the party was sending a political message that together with its partners, ODM and Ford-K, they were committed to deliver Kenyans’ promises.
He appealed to Kenyans to shun tribalism when picking their leaders.
The former vice-president said he was working well with his co-principals Raila Odinga and Moses Wetang’ula.
He allayed fears that they might go separate ways while settling on the coalition’s flag bearer.
Mr Musyoka, who spoke during a public rally at Mukuru Kwa Njenga in Nairobi, said those hoping the coalition would not go to the polls as one entity would be in for a rude shock.
“Time has come for all right-thinking Kenyans to come out and remove Jubilee from power. Cord will form the next government. The coalition will not fall apart as predicted by the prophets of doom,” said Mr Musyoka.
The lawmakers present included Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke, senators Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni) and Hassan Omar Hassan (Mombasa) and MPs Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), Jessica Mbalu (Kibwezi East), Irshad Sumra (Embakasi South) and Robert Mbui (Kathiani).
REGISTER AS VOTERS
Mr Musyoka appealed to Kenyans to register as voters and overwhelmingly support the Cord coalition to unseat the current government.
He termed it unfortunate that the government had resorted “to gagging the opposition” through unrealistic demands that they record statements for public utterances not offensive to the constitution.
Mr Musyoka cited calls to have Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama prosecuted for demeaning the presidency and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru as some of the weird demands by the government that were not informed by law.
Mr Musyoka said it was unfair for the senator to be treated as a criminal for expressing what was in the public domain.
“Muthama made a political statement that must be tolerated because this is what democracy is all about. These are opinions already in the social media,” said Mr Musyoka.
The lawmakers said Mr Muthama’s remarks could not be compared to what Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria spoke when he asked his constituents to attack anyone who opposed President Kenyatta’s projects.
INTIMIDATE OPPOSITION
Mr Kilonzo Jnr said it was improper for the government to intimidate the opposition when they demand accountability.
“Let the charge sheet be ready when Ms Waiguru goes to record a statement as it was when Senator Muthama appered before the CID. We want equality before the law,” said Mr Kilonzo Jnr.
The lawmakers said Cord would not be intimidated to keep silent as things go wrong in the country and challenged Jubilee MPs to be tolerant to divergent views.
“The Jubilee people are not democrats. They did not participate in the country’s struggle for democracy. This is why they confuse constructive criticism with hate speech,” Mr Hassan said.
Mr Musyoka said the government had an obligation to pay teachers because the highest court had spoken.
“Any court of inferior jurisdiction cannot overrule the decision of the Supreme Court. Teachers are demanding their right,” Mr Musyoka said.
