The fragile unity among the four National Super Alliance (NASA) affiliate parties has come under increased pressure after Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Party issued an ultimatum that he be handed coalition's presidential ticket or “NASA is dead.”
This bold declaration was made by National Assembly Minority Leader Francis Nyenze, who is also a member of NASA’s National Coordinating Committee (a 12-member panel charged with identifying NASA’s flagbearer).
The Wiper party, through Nyenze, invoked a 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Kalonzo as concrete grounds for the Wiper leader to be the designated presidential candidate.
According to the MoU, Raila would serve for a single term and support Mr Musyoka in the 2017 elections.
In a hard-hitting interview with the Star, Nyenze cast doubt on Wiper's future position in NASA if a candidate other than Kalonzo was named the alliance presidential flagbearer.
He also asked the 12-member committee to name Kalonzo as the top candidate since the uncertainty was creating tension among supporters.
“So, unless the presidential candidate, the flagbearer, is Kalonzo, I don’t see us (NASA) moving anywhere.
“We haven’t made a lot of progress because when you don’t give a name within a certain period, the anxiety created turns to hopelessness… some of us are getting impatient... if the MoU isn’t honoured, we don’t see the need for the committee,” declared Nyenze.
He added that the Wiper party only had a problem with ODM for their refusal to honour the pact, adding that they (ODM) had used CORD’s transformation into NASA to dodge the MoU.
In a quick rejoinder, ODM insiders sought to discredit the Kitui West MP’s claims accusing him of being a hardliner and spoiler in the 12-member committee.
Nyenze, however, rubbished the allegations explaining that he frequently consults and has the blessings of Kalonzo and the party’s top decision-making organs.
The latest stalemate comes amid reports that the NASA technical team settled on nominations as a way of picking the presidential candidate, with the alternative being Raila as flag bearer and Kalonzo as the running mate.
Meanwhile, Kalonzo on Tuesday received a major boost in his presidential bid through endorsements from Narc leader Charity Ngilu, Chama Cha Uzalendo party leader Wavinya Ndeti and Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana.
The endorsements signalled Kalonzo’s might in the Ukambani region and strengthened his presidential bid owing to a consolidated voting bloc.
