Heated debate in CORD over method to pick 2017 presidential candidate

NAIROBI, KENYA: A plan to have Coalition of Restoration and Democracy (CORD) principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula to fight it out between themselves for the party’s ticket in the next general elections has sparked off a heated a debate.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale who is a member of United Democratic Front (UDF) but has teamed up with CORD proposed that the CORD flag bearer come 2017 general elections should be the principal who will garner the highest numbers of voters in a pre-election contest.

Khalwale was echoing the words of Bungoma Senator Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) who has declared his interest in the seat. He said preliminary elections should be carried out among coalition partners and whoever emerges the winner should be the flag bearer.

“Western region will bring on board, 4 million plus voters, Nyanza 2.5 million voters and Wiper 2 million voters. So it will be wise to ensure those with numbers become the front runners,” said Khalwale over the weekend.

“If we manage to convince our people to take up IDs and voters cards, we should be able to elect Wetang’ula or even me to fight it out with President Uhuru Kenyatta.”

But a section of legislators drawn from Nyanza region led by Homa Bay senator Otieno Kajwang have sharply reacted to the plans and termed the talks of a presidential race as premature at the moment.

Kajwang a close ally of ODM party leader Raila Odinga said there was no need to alter the last election line up since the players performed exceptionally well but were robbed of the match.

“You do not punish the captain and its team because the referee messed up the match,” said Kajwang, adding that the choice of a flag bearer is done through structured negotiations not pronouncements in rallies.

He noted that if community numbers counted, former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi would have easily won the presidential race.

Kajwang warned Raila’s co-principals against conspiring to be presidents at this time, and instead asked that they should focus their energies in persuading Kenyans and guarding their territory which has been their strength against Jubilee.

But Wetang’ula, who has declared he will vie for presidency but within CORD says the move, should not be a debate to divide Cord supporters.

“I will vie for presidency come 2017 but under CORD coalition. We came together as a coalition and subordinated our candidacy to Raila and his candidature was for 2013. 2017 is different ball game. You must remember that to become president, you must win in 24 counties, so we should work together with others in CORD to ensure we get the required numbers,” Wetang’ula said.

The leader of Minority in the Senate has made it clear that he is an equal partner in CORD by virtue of his position as Ford Kenya’s party leader.

But close allies of Raila have not taken it lightly.

Nyando MP Fred Outa said the flag bearer would be decided at a joint coalition’s national delegates’ conference warning leaders from the coalition to desist from polarizing remarks.

“Our main focus is keeping the Jubilee government in check, let us not allow such utterances to divide us,” said Outa.

Butere MP Andrew Toboso (ODM) criticized Khalwale and termed his declaration as a personal opinion saying any credible election process must be directed by the law.

“As it stands, in CORD there is no law that states that the coalition flag bearer must be someone with highest numbers of voters from his community or backyard. As its today, no single tribe can produce a president. Every one need a backup and support,” he said.

Siaya Women Representative Christine Ombaka questioned Wetang’ula’s surety that he will get the entire Luhya vote.

“Some of the voters there will vote for Jubilee especially where both coalitions are dominant,” said Dr Ombaka, who added that there is no guarantee that the population of an area will determine who the flag bearer is.

Ombaka proposed that the flag bearer be nominated through a vote that involves coalition members from the whole country.

Her Kisumu County counterpart Rose Nyamunga said the person to be chosen as the coalition’s captain should be able to garner votes across the whole nation and not only a particular block.

But other legislators want the talk about presidency shelved for now.

Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said it was pre-mature to start engaging in such talks, stressing that currently their focus and energy should be in the Okoa Kenya initiative.

Lurambi MP Raphael Otaalo(ODM) said though numbers should be considered when choosing the coalition flag bearer, he explained that the nomination should be left to the coalition members to elect their preferred candidate.

“We should come up with a process that is acceptable to all. A process that will offer fair competition to all aspiring candidates,” said Otaalo.

Kisumu West MP John Olago Aluoch termed the process of choosing a flag bearer for the coalition as a very complex one than a simple arithmetic the Western leaders were proposing.

Olago stressed that character, capacity, national appeal, track record, mobilization of voter registration and voter turn-out all come at play when choosing a flag bearer.

“Sheer numbers of voters is no guarantee to be a team captain,” said Olago.

Olago who was elected on a Ford Kenya ticket warned his party leader against making reckless utterances that may bring disharmony in the coalition.

“Unity is strength and we must guard it jealously,” he added.

However, it a fact that most people in Western Kenya divide their vote between Uhuru, Raila and Mudavadi.

There is no guarantee that the Luhya will vote based on tribal line.

Sirisia Mp John Waluke (ODM) have however welcomed the option by said it should not be the only alternative used in determining the flag bearer.

“Look at history, registering is not voting; in fact western voters have an increased apathy towards voting. In the past elections, Wiper strongholds voted 98 per cent for CORD, ODM strongholds voted over 90 per cent, while western as region voted 60 per cent. So registration does not translate to voting,” said Waluke.

Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir said Eugene Wamalwa also made a mistake thinking the entire Luhya community would rally behind him.

“The Luhya community has no particular loyalty apart from the late Masinde Muliro and Kijana Wamalwa,” said Shabbir.