Kalonzo Musyoka denies claims he is in coalition talks with Raila Odinga

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has dismissed claims that he is in talks with ODM’s Raila Odinga for a possible coalition ahead of next year’s elections.

Mr Musyoka yesterday said that reports linking him to Mr Odinga, or any other political leader suggesting a coalition outside the One Kenya Alliance was false.

Mr Musyoka, who was speaking after a service at the Nairobi East SDA Church, was in the company of Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi. He said the claims were a creation of the media, insisting that he was in OKA to stay.

“As OKA, we are very solid and we know what brought us together. Our unity keeps growing by the day.  In fact, those reports that we have been seeing going round, some stating that there are talks going on elsewhere must have been a creation of you the media. And we want to urge our supporters to treat them as such,” Mr Musyoka said.

The Wiper party leader has in recent weeks been linked to a possible alliance with Mr Odinga, with the reports suggesting that he was working on a secret deal that would see them challenge deputy president William Ruto in next year’s polls.

Mr Odinga during the Wiper National Delegates Conference in Kasarani two weeks ago hinted that he may work with Kalonzo. His presence at the meeting caused disquiet within OKA.

“What Kalonzo wants is what Raila wants. I am confident that in the days to come our roads will meet again,” Mr Odinga said.

Mr Mudavadi, on the other hand, asked the government to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to carry out its work without interference to ensure a free, fair and credible elections next year.

The ANC party leader said that for the country’s electoral process to be trusted again, the squabbles that had marred the management of the elections, including last week’s decision by the IEBC to walk out of the election preparedness team, must be addressed.

 “IEBC must be supported and allowed to work independently as envisaged in the law. The commission is an independent institution that must be allowed to work and remain that way. The very purpose of OKA is to give hope to Kenyans, and that hope can only be realised if we have institutions that can guarantee us credible elections next year,” Mr Mudavadi said.