Mudavadi, Wetang’ula ready to lead Opposition in 2022 presidential elections

 

ANC Party leader Musalia Mudavadi addresses media in Kakamega on 20 August, 2017 after having a meeting with elect Members of County Assembly. [Photo:BENJAMIN SAKWA/Standard]

Amani National Congress (ANC) and Ford Kenya leaders say they are equal to the task of leading the opposition for the 2022 presidential elections.

According to an MoU signed between the affiliate parties, ODM leader, Raila Odinga was expected to serve for one term and hand over the mantle to his deputy Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper Democratic Movement.

NASA comprises Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM), Ford-Kenya (Ford-K), Amani National Congress (ANC) and Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) parties.

Kakamega Senator-elect Cleophas Malala noted that ANC will not accept anything less than its leader Musalia Mudavadi being the presidential candidate of NASA in 2022.

"We have resolved that Mudavadi will be on the presidential ballot paper in 2022. If any person wants to form a coalition with Mudavadi, he/she should be ready to support Mudavadi," said Malala.

His words were echoed by Kakamega ANC MCAs-elect who have vowed to push for ANC agenda across the region to consolidate the base for Mudavadi.

Speaking during a church service at Christ the King Catholic Church in Bungoma, Senator Moses Wetang'ula said he was ready to take up the mantle after retirement of NASA leader, Raila Odinga.

He said that he had sacrificed his presidential ambition for Raila's campaign and said he was best placed to take over.

"I let my ambition go in order to support Raila in the concluded elections and with his proclamation of not going for the top seat I will go for it in 2022," he said.

Wetang'ula launched his presidential bid in 2016 at Muliro Gardens in Kakamega but was forced to shelve his ambition and support Raila under the NASA banner.

Mudavadi and Wetang'ula expressed optimism that NASA will win the presidential petition filed at the Supreme Court.

Speaking during ANC meeting in Kakamega, Mudavadi exuded confidence that the Supreme Court will serve justice to NASA and nullify the presidential elections.

"There were fictitious polling stations, one person serving as returning officer for several constituencies. The election was shambolic and did not reflect the will of Kenyans," Mudavadi said.

"In over 10,000 polling stations, Raila was leading but it did not reflect on IEBC portal. We are firm in NASA and we have confidence of winning the case. We are only fearing the rate at which electoral officials are being killed as this might distort some facts."

On the other hand Wetang'ula said he will be offering his legal advice to the NASA petition on President Uhuru Kenyatta's reelection.