Baringo Senator and Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi has come under intense pressure from his party officials to quit the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) and join Azimio la Umoja affiliated to the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 9, KANU Secretary General Nick Salat expressed frustrations with what he referred to as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka's indecisiveness.
Salat, an insider in Gideon's camp, stated that time was running out for the independence party to join Azimio la Umoja coalition and that it was time to to leave OKA.
"What does your friend want? We have tried to give him everything but he is taking forever to decide. Time is running out. If your partner is not willing, leave him and lead us into Azimio. How long will we babysit him, we have to go," Salat stated during the launch of KANU's 2022 to 2027 manifesto.
The remarks came a day after Gideon told a rally in Samburu that he was all set to join Azimio. On Wednesday, however, the Kanu Chairman avoided the tough talk by his allies and spoke about the party's new manifesto.
It is based on five economic pillars, including imposing the death penalty on people convicted of economic crimes to tackle corruption.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader also indicated it would not wait for Wiper to join the movement - insisting that no one would be forced to join the Azimio La Umoja Coalition.
"It is a coalition of the willing nobody is being coerced or forced to join Azimio. If you feel you do not subscribe to the vision of Azimio you are free not to come," Raila stated after receiving MCAs from Murang'a.
This comes even as Azimio la Umoja is set to hold a major National Delegates Conference on Saturday, March 12, where it is expected to name the ODM leader as its presidential candidate.
The OKA coalition was expected to officially sign their pact on Wednesday, March 2 but was however postponed following fresh demands that were lodged by the Narc Kenya party led by Martha Karua.
Karua requested the OKA principals to grant her party seven days to analyse the details of the coalition before formally signing to join.
"We were to sign our coalition agreement today but we have postponed to polish certain legal issues. Nevertheless, we are committed to our unity. We shall be letting you know the time we shall sign the agreement," the OKA principals announced.
"We still are open to receive other parties that we are talking to into the OKA coalition and to building coalitions with other Kenyans," they added.
The delay in joining the coalition which is also supported by President Uhuru Kenyatta follows a list of demands that were made public by Kalonzo over his past Memorandum of Understanding with Raila.
According to their pact, Kalonzo argued that Raila is expected to support his presidential bid. He however noted that he is still open to more negotiations.
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