Wiper to quit NASA if Kalonzo is not named flag bearer
By Rufus Hunja/Sylvester Ruto
The National Super Alliance is headed for turbulent times after Kitui West Member of Parliament Francis Nyenze demanded that Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka be appointed its flag bearer or else the party will pull out of the ongoing negotiations and front Kalonzo as their Presidential candidate in the 2017 general election.
Wiper party representative to the NASA coordinating committee Francis Nyenze, maintains the coalition should honor the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding-MOU –that was agreed upon by Kalonzo and ODM leader, Raila Odinga.
Addressing the press at parliament buildings the Kitui West MP said his statement represents the position taken by majority of his colleagues in the wiper party.
Mr Nyenze told NASA to convene a meeting of the National Coordinating Committee to affirm the 2013 MoU otherwise Mr Musyoka would go it alone.
He says there is a stalemate in the negotiations by the coordinating committee and the process is now a waste of time
“The Kambas have reached an edge and if it is not Kalonzo, Wiper will go it alone. We’ll not play second fiddle to anybody,” he said.
But Wiper Secretary General, Hassan Omar, has insisted that the party is in NASA to stay regardless of the outcome of the deliberations on the NASA flagbearer by the coalition co-ordinating committee.
Omar dismissed rumours that the party could get out of NASA, accusing a section of bloggers of spreading malice.
He however, defended Nyenze’s remarks that the party will settle for nothing less than having Kalonzo named the NASA flagbearer.
He urged the four NASA co-principals to engage each other in person and announce the flag bearer immediately to ease tension among the coalition supporters.
According to the 2013 MOU agreed between Kalonzo and Raila, Kalonzo was to support Raila’s bid for the presidency in the 2013 polls, while Raila would in turn support Kalonzo in the 2017 poll.
Meanwhile, Amani party leader Musalia Mudavadi has called on NASA supporters to remain calm as deliberations on its flag bearer continue saying they are likely to name him in May.
Mudavadi said giving ultimatums on who should be the flag bearer or not is a waste of time and called on their supporters to support whoever is agreed upon saying they have to be strategic in all areas
Read related: Wiper Party endorses Kalonzo its Presidential flag bearer
