Leaders blame management committee for cracks in the Opposition

Discord is brewing within a key committee responsible for managing the affairs of the opposition CORD.

The CORD Coalition Management Committee co-chaired by Senators Johnstone Muthama, James Orengo and MP Eseli Simuyu has come under attack from MPs who have accused them of running down the coalition.

The leaders have faulted the committee's organisation and planning of yesterday's rally in Kibera, Nairobi, which was supposed to counter the Jubilee one held in Afraha stadium in Nakuru.

Critics say the Kibera rally was hurriedly convened without enough consultation.

"We are in a quagmire because of the same coalition management committee. Their idea was for us to steal the thunder from Jubilee but that's not how you organise a meeting of such magnitude," an MP who sought anonymity said.

The MP was talking about the debacle of the coalition flag-bearer which has seen the three principals and their allies assert their right to the ticket yet this could be managed by the committee.

Another CORD member told The Standard on Sunday that he was shocked to read about the planned meeting on Friday morning yet he sits in the committee. The MP had prior engagement in his constituency and could not attend the Kibera rally.

"Even if I was not engaged I wouldn't attend such a rally organised in such a manner. Look, I am a member of that committee which purportedly planned the rally. No one called us to a meeting or consulted us," the member said.

The CORD co-principals are also members of the committee and MPs Chris Wamalwa, John Mbadi and Senator David Musila.