Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga is in talks with leaders of five other political parties to form a super alliance in his bid to unseat President Uhuru Kenyatta, sources say.
Details of the secret talks began to emerge with Mr Odinga’s key allies and associates talking of what they termed “the mother of all coalitions”.
They exuded confidence that the political machine being assembled would be formidable enough to wrest power from President Kenyatta.
The former Prime Minister, Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi of Amani National Congress and Kanu’s Gideon Moi are said to be the key pillars of the new political powerhouse being formed for the coming elections.
Sources also said Narc, which is led by former Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu, and Narc-Kenya’s Martha Karua were also being wooed into the alliance that will “command adequate votes to defeat the Jubilee coalition”.
One of the opposition leaders in the know told theNation that Mr Odinga and his key Cord partners had been advised by their strategists to do away with the coalition crafted at the end of 2012.
According to the sources, Mr Odinga was advised that his third presidential bid was weakened by the exit of his former Pentagon colleagues, including Deputy President William Ruto after the post-election fallout.
EMERGING OPPOSITION ALLIANCE
On Sunday, MPs Junet Mohammed (Suna East) and Ayub Savula (Lugari) gave credence to the talks on the emerging opposition alliance and said Mr Odinga and Mr Mudavadi have been in serious talks.
“I can authoritatively confirm that Mr Odinga, Mr Mudavadi, Mr Moi and Mr Musyoka are deep in talks to craft a super alliance to deliver Kenya from the yoke of corruption,” said Mr Mohammed.
Mr Savula, a key associate of Mr Mudavadi, said the opposition talks were serious and that the network being created was far and wide.
“As Luhya leaders, we have sat down with Mr Mudavadi and gave him the green light to go out there and engage his colleagues in the interest of all Kenyans,” the MP said.
But contacted, Mr Mudavadi said he was not aware of any talks aimed at forming a super alliance. “I have said that there is a commonality in some policies but I am not aware of any such talks. ANC is focused on Luhya unity,” he said.
Kanu secretary-general Nick Salat was non-committal on Sunday, saying: “I can neither deny nor confirm.”
Ms Karua declined to comment on the matter while Wiper secretary-general Hassan Omar said the matter was sensitive.
-nation.co.ke
