Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, says he appeared before the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya selection panel so as not to give a reason to Raila Odinga to lock him out of the running mate position.
Speaking after leaving the interview room on Tuesday, May 10, Kalonzo argued that should he have failed to face the Noah Wekesa-led panel, would easily give the team a reason to overlook him.
Kalonzo maintained he was the most qualified person for the position having served as the country's Vice President under the late Mwai Kibaki and having been Raila's running mate in two consecutive elections.
The Wiper leader stated that he had a productive engagement with the panel, further expressing optimism he will be picked as the coalition's second-in-command.
"The decision to come was my own because I realized we (Wiper) did not want to give anybody an excuse whatsoever to say we refused to come. I am here and I can tell you it was a wonderful conversation," the Wiper Party leader explained.
"Leaders such as Bishop Njenga, Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth, I looked at that and said why wouldn't I want to go greet Archbishop Okoth at his age?"
Kalonzo stated that he presented the needs of his supporters before the panel, noting that it is the work of the panel now to determine who is suitable to be on the Azimio ticket with Raila.
"I took that decision. I am not at liberty to divulge the contents of that conversation," Kalonzo stated when asked what he discussed with the panel.
Earlier, Kitui Senator, Enoch Wambua, told Kenyans.co.ke that his party leader will be interviewed before the end of the day Tuesday, May 10. He stated that the interviews were more of conversations rather than vetting as thought by many Kenyans.
Kalonzo had expressed his reservations with the interview process, pressing the Azimio leadership to choose him as Raila Odinga's running mate through dialogue.
Despite this, his party forwarded his nomination papers to the panel with Baringo Senator, Gideon Moi's Kanu party also backing his candidature.
Kalonzo had earlier stated that most of his supporters were for dialogue and felt that he was the rightful candidate.
"Most people we have met within the campaign trail share the same views as me. The panel has very respectable leaders but there is time we need to have political solutions to some of these problems," he stated last week.
"It is true that my Secretary-General submitted my nomination application to the panel. I thank Gideon Moi for endorsing my candidature," he added while confirming the submission of his application to the panel on May 6.
