The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has announced the method it will use to pick its 2017 presidential flag bearer following weeks of speculations.
During a press conference on Thursday, the coalition's management team led by Tongaren Member of Parliament Eseli Simiyu proclaimed that its candidate would be picked through a free and fair nomination exercise among all member parties.
CORD downplayed earlier claims that its flag bearer would be chosen through endorsement, which had caused internal tension with each of the three main partners declaring interest in the position.
“Calls for endorsement by one or the other candidates must end. They serve no useful purpose and only create unnecessary tension and confusion. CORD will not pick its candidate through endorsement,” said Simiyu.
The Opposition urged for an immediate end to debate on the contentious 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), stating that the three principals, Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula were the only ones in a position to discuss the matter.
“It's our position that interpretation of that agreement will be left to the principals together with the CORD management committee,” he added.
According to the contentious MOU, the President and Deputy President positions were supposed to be filled by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Wiper Party nominees leaving Wetangula out of the deal.
This follows weeks of reported strained relationship in which a section of ODM members dismissed the Senator's presidential bid, arguing that he was not part of the 2013 agreement.
However, Wetangula's Ford Kenya party leaders on the other hand have been blaming their counterparts, declaring that they were equal partners in the coalition and had an equal say in the 2013 presidential race.
