OKA chiefs edge closer to picking their candidate

**One Kenya Alliance (OKA) Principals Gideon Moi, Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka during a church service at St Marks AIPCA in Kinamba Naivasha last year.** [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

The One Kenya Alliance (OKA) secretariat has retreated to Naivasha to fine-tune a document that will guide its principals in the choice of a presidential candidate.

The team arrived at the Great Rift Lodge on Wednesday afternoon to make final touches on the document that could make or break the coalition that has been under immense pressure to name a flag bearer.

OKA has also faced pressure to join ODM leader Raila Odinga's Azimia La Umoja or Deputy President William Ruto's Hustler movement.

According to an advance team that checked in at the hotel, the principals will on Friday approve draft regulations on how they will pick a flag bearer ahead of the August 9 General Election.

OKA principals Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya) and Gideon Moi of Kanu are optimistic the guidelines will help them pick a formidable candidate.

The four principals are expected to receive presentations from the committee on the guidelines on Friday.

Raila and Ruto have been wooing OKA principals but they have stood their ground, insisting they will have a presidential candidate.

According to a source within the secretariat, the four principals had vowed to back one of their own in the coming elections.

“We shall have a meeting starting Wednesday and on Friday, we shall brief the principals before they make the decision on the way forward,” said the source.

The official added that they would also review the proposal to work with other parties.

“The principals have not ruled out working with other parties and we shall come up with our engagement regulations which will be shared with our leaders,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Mudavadi denied reports that they had been approached by Ruto and Raila.

He said they were ready to support one of their own. “We have heard reports that we plan to support another leader. This is not true as we have capable leaders in OKA,” he said.

Wetangula said they would back whoever will be picked to represent the alliance.