Kalonzo, Mudavadi allies work on pre-election pact

By Martin Mutua

Allies of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and those of Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi met for the second time in a bid to craft an alliance.

The group which met at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi included Wiper Chairman David Musila and Yatta MP, Charles Kilonzo on one side and UDF’s Iklomani MP Dr Bonny Khalwale and Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni on the other.

The group mandated Kalonzo and Mudavadi to come up with a working structure.

“We have mandated our leaders to come up with a clear arrangement and it is them who will steer this alliance,” said Khalwale.

Khalwale told The standard after the meeting that the two political parties were edging on a working arrangement and their party leaders would make the matter public once everything is done.

“We started these meetings last week and we hope to come up with an agreement between the two parties,” added Khalwale.

Musila confirmed talks were on going and that in the event they agree on the pact they would make everything public.

He further said they mandated the DPM and VP to negotiate with other like-minded partners.

“We have given them leeway to consult widely with other like-minded parties willing to work with us to move the Kenyan agenda forward as opposed to individual interests,” added Musila.

The talks between the two parties come in the wake of reports that the VP had ditched the G7 Alliance that brought together among others TNA presidential candidate, Uhuru Kenyatta and his URP counterpart William Ruto.

The two are said to have sealed a deal that presents Uhuru as their presidential candidate and Ruto his running mate.

The two reportedly offered Kalonzo the position of Majority Leader in the next parliament, which he rejected and ditched the G7 Alliance.

Since then there has been signals of an impeding alliance between Kalonzo and Prime Minister Raila odinga.

Kalonzo’s ally and Government Chief Whip, Johnstone Muthama kicked up a storm last month when he declared they would work with Raila. Muthama hosted Raila in his Kangundo Constituency when the PM made a tour of the area.

Muthama then followed with two other events, first, attending a soccer match between Gor Mahia and Tusker FC at City Stadium with Raila and then a rally with the ODM Reloaded team in Homa Bay.

These events happened even as Kalonzo attempted to deny links with the new alliance.