We must stay united to beat Jubilee in 2017 polls, say CORD legislators

NAIROBI: The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) is banking on a unity of purpose ahead of the 2017 polls to dislodge President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee administration.

The Opposition members want the three co-principals Raila Odinga (ODM) Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya) to stick together and agree among themselves on who will be presidential flag bearer.

With the three top seat contenders each maintaining that they must be in the ballot, the method used to pick the presidential candidate to face off with President Kenyatta could break or make the coalition.

Aware of the root that has plagued the opposition before in jointly picking the candidate, some leaders from the Opposition parties insist that the three co-principals should reach an agreement.

Ford Kenya Secretary General Eseli Simiyu averred that there is no chance for break up in the Opposition coalition despite incessant attempts of their political nemesis to plant seeds of discord among them.

"A break up would be an early Christmas for Jubilee. We are aware of the efforts to break up and we expect these efforts to increase in the run down to the elections. How resilient the three principals will be determines the 2017 election outcome," said Dr Eseli.

Eseli who is also the Tongaren MP cautioned that there is no cause for alarm, saying the leaders are only firming their ground.

ODM Chairman John Mbadi poured cold water on a possible fallout of the CORD affiliate parties, saying the principals have just restated their interest in the top seat for 2017 to allow members discuss the arrangements. The Suba MP said Kenyans who support CORD should make sure that the co-principals do not go separate ways in the wake of insecurity, corruption and ethnic polarisation that is dodging the Jubilee administration, as they would offer an alternative.

"Kenyans can avoid a split CORD because that is where their hopes lie in the wake of Jubilee administration which has shown incompetence in managing security, corruption and ethnic polarisation," said Mbadi.

His Rarieda counterpart Nicholas Gumbo (ODM) said the Opposition has learnt enough lessons now to know that they must stick together if they want to succeed.

"All the three principals are presidential materials and the method to choose any one of them must preserve the unity of the coalition. We have enough lessons now to know that we must stick together to succeed or go our separate ways and perish," said Gumbo.

 With each holding high esteemed political credentials to make a stab at the presidency, Wiper leaders are of the opinion that Kalonzo should be given the mantle. Mbooni MP Kisoi Munyao (Wiper) argued that Raila has made a stab at the presidency three times and was unsuccessful and its now time the Opposition changes strategy and the presidential bearer.

However, CORD's Management Affairs Co-chair and Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama is of the opinion that the coalition's victory was stolen in the last election and that the players should not be changed.