MP Hezron Awiti accuses Kalonzo Musyoka of forcing him out of Wiper

Nyali MP Hezron Awiti (right) addresses the Press. The legislator who is eyeing Mombasa gubernatorial seat has defected from Wiper citing frustrations. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

MOMBASA:Nyali MP Hezron Awiti Tuesday accused Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka of shielding Senator Hassan Omar from competitive governorship nominations.

Mr Awiti has ditched Wiper party for Vibrant Democratic Party (VDP), where he was welcomed as the party leader.

The MP said he loved his former party and blamed Kalonzo for his departure, accusing him of frustrating his effort to capture the Wiper ticket.

“It was two months of lengthy consultative meetings presided over by the Wiper leader. It was a cat-and-mouse game in which at one point, I was promised the governorship ticket as Omar defends his seat. But my celebration was short-lived when the story changed. I was subjected to frustration at the hands of the Wiper party leader,” said Awiti. He claimed that at one point, it was agreed that 100 delegates from each of the six constituencies would come together to nominate the candidate for the governor’s seat, but this failed.

Later, he said, three representatives from the constituencies were called to make a decision, but results of these meetings were never made public.

Awiti was addressing supporters of his new party at Wild Waters Centre Tuesday. He was welcomed by chairman Paul Ngei and deputy party leader Steve Ruwa among other officials.

“I thank VDP leaders for giving me a political home after months of frustration at the hands of the Wiper leader. I quit my former party when it became clear there were no chances of being nominated to run for governor,” Awiti said.

The MP said he would unite the various communities in the county through consultative meetings and pledged to fight drug trafficking.