Wiper Democratic Movement party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has dismissed reports that he would be joining president-elect William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza alliance.
Speaking to the press on Sunday, August 21 after attending a service at the JTM Church in Donholm, Nairobi, Kalonzo laughed off the allegations, affirming that he was in Azimio.
He explained that Wiper, which was a constituent party of Azimio, would be challenging Ruto's victory at the apex court and working with the Deputy President was out of sight.
"I think those are wishful thinkers. We know where we are going; straight to pursue them in the Supreme Court," Kalonzo noted.
The former Vice President's clarification came barely an hour after religious leaders from his Kitui backyard mounted pressure on him and other leaders from Lower Eastern to join Kenya Kwanza.
They argued that the region has suffered economic and development recession during the last 10 years in which they have been in the opposition.
"We appeal to you that this time, do not allow us to fall into the opposition. We do not have have sufficient water, neither do we have food. Our people are suffering," the church leaders reckoned.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke Makueni Senator-elect Dan Maanzo, and a confidant of the former Vice President, reiterated Kalonzo's sentiments, terming a political pact with Kenya Kwanza as a near impossibility. He added that the decision to form political alliances was a collective one and cannot be made by an individual.
"Such a decision can only be made by the party leadership as a whole, and will not depend on such demands. As it stands, Kalonzo will challenge Ruto's win at the supreme court," he stated.
Maanzo further opined that the outgoing Deputy President should be the one reaching out to the former Vice President for the sake of peace, while maintaining that a political alliance was not up for consideration.
"If Ruto really wants peace, then he should allow Kalonzo to be elected as the speaker of the National Assembly once the MPs are sworn in. Nonetheless, I doubt that will happen," he remarked.
Members of Parliament in the National Assembly and Senate are set to elect two speakers, in what is likely to be a fierce battle between Ruto and Raila Odinga as the two leaders seek to control the legislative arm of the next government.
Kalonzo, a senior counsel, is likely to face Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula in the National Assembly duel, after it emerged that their respective coalitions had fronted their names ahead of the first sittings.
