Form single party to win 2017 General Election, CORD told

An ODM-allied Member of Parliament Saturday urged the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD), to form a single party ahead of 2017 General Election, if it wants to remain relevant and achieve its quest to ascend into the country's leadership.

Speaking at Masalani town during the disbursement of Sh12.4 million of the Uwezo fund to 145 youth groups in his Ijara constituency, the area MP Ahmed Ibrahim Abass said the recent political realignment in the country, where the ruling Jubilee coalition parties has merged to establish Jubilee Alliance should inform Cord's decision making in the next national poll.

“As a senior member of the opposition coalition party, I urge our three principals to dissolve their respective parties and form one strong party that will square out with the Jubilee Alliance Party in 2017 General Election,” he said.

He added “If our three principals – Raila Odinga, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka -forming CORD are not willing to merge into one strong opposition party to battle it out favorably with the reorganised Jubilee Alliance Party, some of us may consider to walk out of the coalition. We can't be part of a weak party that is likely to lose in an election.”

The Ijara legislator noted that, if the Cord coalition were to establish one party, the opposition will be sure of forming the next government noting that preparations toward that goal must be started early enough to avoid last minute rush like the one experienced in 2013.

The youthful MP said Cord is the most popular party with strong countrywide representation but has been weaken by competing interests by the parties forming the coalition.