Kalonzo talks of betrayal as CORD told to declare candidate

CORD leaders Moses Wetang'ula (left), Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga dance during the launch of Kalonzo's website at Panari Hotel on June 30, 2016. [Photo: DENNIS KAVISU/Standard]

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders have been challenged by their allies to pick the Opposition’s presidential candidate by next month.

The push came on a day Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said he had been betrayed politically several times.

Wiper Democratic Movement Chairman Senator David Musila kicked off the debate by asking the three coalition principals – Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula – to consult among themselves and pick the preferred candidate in readiness for 2017 polls.

“I want the three of you to agree among yourselves and give us a presidential candidate by August. We do not need to go to next year undecided,” said Mr Musila.

The Kitui senator reminded the trio that every electioneering period they settle on a presidential candidate when its too late.

Mr Wetang’ula said there was light at the end of the tunnel in regard to the presidential candidate.

“Work is in progress and you will soon see some smoke, preferably white,” said Wetang’ula in response.

While launching his own interactive website, Mr Musyoka said that CORD members in the parliamentary select committee on the electoral agency should ensure that a new voter register is in place before the next polls.

He claimed that about one million voters had been added to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) voter register and they were skewed to favour their political opponents.

POLITICAL DECEIT

“We must resolve never to allow a stolen election in this country. This country must be liberated,” said Musyoka.

The former vice president also lamented how he has been a victim of political deceit in the country, terming it the most painful experience.

“I have known betrayal in Kenyan politics. Betrayal will never come from Musyoka,” he said.

But Raila steered off the debate of who should become CORD’s flag bearer to take on the President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Instead, Raila decried what he termed as habitual tendency of ‘political deceit’ that has been meted on him and Kalonzo.

He maintained that he would continue to talk about the ills bedeviling the country, adding that no amount of intimidation and threats by the Jubilee administration would deter them.

Kalonzo decried the blatant tribalism and nepotism perpetrated by the Government.

He said that a recent study on the composition of the Public Service revealed that just two ethnic groups have the lion’s share of public appointments.