We are united ahead of 2017 polls, CORD principals declare

CORD leader Raila Odinga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula during the burial ceremony of Chama Cha Uzalendo Party leader Wavinya Ndeti's husband Prince Henry Oduwale at their home in Kinanie, Machakos County. CORD co-principals yesterday affirmed their unity and dismissed media reports of deep differences.? (PHOTO: COURTESY)

CORD co-principals yesterday affirmed their unity and dismissed media reports of deep differences.

ODM party leader Raila Odinga, Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula accused the media of fanning the debate on disunity.

Speaking yesterday during the burial of Prince Henry Dolamu, husband to Wavinya Ndeti, at Kenanie farm in Mavoko, the three leaders said they are firmly together.

“We did not come here for politics. We came for a burial. But you can see Kalonzo is here, Wetang'ula is here and myself. We are together. It is the media spreading rumours that CORD will split,” said Raila.

He termed reports that Kalonzo and Wetang’ula will break from the coalition as rumours. “They say Wetang’ula will leave, that Kalonzo will also go and that Raila will go it alone. All these are rumours,” said Raila.

He asked the media to investigate and report accurately on CORD matters.

“CORD is intact. It is the media that is wishing for discord and a split between us. They should stop speculating over nonexistent differences,” said Raila.

Defections

He said CORD is strong and will soon receive other leaders ‘to join the team.’ He spoke in reference to the presence of the former Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu at the funeral.

“You see Ngilu is here. And others are on the way,” he said.

Kalonzo assured Kenyans that there will never be discord in the opposition. He said media has ‘created disharmony in CORD and even went ahead to split the coalition.’

He reiterated that his presence alongside Raila and Wetang’ula is evidence that there are no deep differences between them.

“As you can see we are all here today to send off our brother but also to show Kenyans that we are together and very united,” he said.

The three leaders drove in a convoy from Nairobi to the Kenanie farm in Mavoko.

Wetang’ula took a swipe at the Jubilee government over corruption and asked Kenyans to vote wisely next year.

“Kenyans must unite to defeat this corrupt administration. Kenya can never be ruled by Jubilee,” he said.

Speculation has been rife over split of the leaders over the controversy on the CORD flagbearer for the 2017 elections with each of the three leaders claiming to best suited to take on President Uhuru Kenyatta.

And Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has given strong indications of forging a supper alliance with CORD.

Buoyed by defection of 63 elected leaders from Jubilee to ANC, Mudavadi said his party is gaining influence ahead of the 2017 elections.

Speaking yesterday when he received 40 MCAs who have ditched Jubilee Party, the former Deputy Prime Minister said ANC has heightened its grassroots campaigns to bolster its presence across the country.

He said he was ready to craft a super alliance with CORD to uproot Jubilee from power.

“Talk of forming a super alliance is in the public domain. We want our people to digest it before we can make the right decision at the right time,” he said yesterday at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi.

Of 108 leaders who have defected following the September 10 Jubilee merger, 63 have joined ANC.

They include Lamu Governor Issa Timamy and his deputy Eric Mugo and MPs Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), Alfred Sambu (Webuye East), John Bunyasi (Nambale), Ayub Savula (Lugari) and Alfred Agoi (Sabatia).

At least 56 MCAs have also joined the party, majority of whom are from Vihiga and Kakamega counties.

Mudavadi said the latest defections are signs that ANC is the only party that can offer alternative leadership.

The party has announced a series of political activities across the country to mobilise support.

ANC will launch women’s charter to re-energise it and make it more gender inclusive.

The leader hit out at the Jubilee administration for allegedly being anti-devolution and assured Kenyans that ANC would ensure equal distribution of resources should it form the next government.

The MCAs urged their colleagues in Jubilee to join ANC before the polls.

The leaders said they consulted the electorate who urged them to leave Jubilee, whose ticket President Kenyatta will use to seek re-election.

ANC Secretary-General Godfrey Otsosi said they have also received written submissions of interest from elected leaders from various parties.