OKA to name flagbearer in January, says Wetang’ula

The One Kenya Alliance (OKA) has now set a January deadline to unveil its presidential candidate amid growing influence of Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga. 

Ford-Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula says plans to unveil the flagbearer by the end of January 2022 are complete.

“Forget about the naysayers who think that Oka is moving too slowly. Good coalitions and good preparations for elections are never done in a hurry. We have promised Kenyans that by the end of January, we will be unveiling our candidate,” he said at the weekend.

Oka is made up of Ford-Kenya, the Musalia Mudavadi-led Amani National Congress (ANC), Gideon Moi’s Kanu, Kalonzo-led Wiper Musyoka and former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo.

“All of us are interested parties and we have picked a team that is working on unveiling the flag-bearer,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

The legislator called on Kenyans not to fall victims to toxic politics.

“Oka is focused on rejuvenating our economy, uniting the country, making sure that the country is at peace not only by itself but with its neighbours enshrining the East African community as the bedrock of our economic growth,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

Mr Odinga and his allies have been pushing Oka to back his bid, with Mr Moi and Mr Jirongo having attended his declaration of his fifth stab at the top job early this month.

While Mr Moi said he showed up at the Kasarani event to repay the debt after Mr Odinga attended Kanu’s National Delegates Council that endorsed the former, Mr Jirongo said he attended because he had faith in Mr Odinga’s capacity to take over from President Kenyatta and lead Kenya on the path of reform.

Allies of Mr Mudavadi have, however, reiterated his intention not to back the ODM boss.

During the burial of Mr Mudavadi’s step mother last week, Mr Odinga made yet another plea for the former vice president to work with him in his 2022 State House bid.

Dr Ruto, on the other hand, was in Western last week, where he asked locals to push Mr Mudavadi and Mr Wetang’ula to work with him, instead of Mr Odinga, in 2022.

The DP argues he is the best bet for Oka to be in power in 2022, saying Mr Odinga has used them in the 2013 and 2017 polls, with nothing to show for it.

Meanwhile, Ford Kenya party is set to unveil its election board to conduct elections in 2022.

“We are done with the party National Delegates Conference (NDC), we expelled enemies and we are now ready to go,” he said.

The Bungoma senator assured that nominations in Ford Kenya will be fair, free and open to help gain confidence from Kenyans.

He noted that the party is very vibrant after getting the new officials, including the new secretary-general Chris Wamalwa.

The election board will vet all aspirants that will run on Ford Kenya to ensure they get credible candidates who will emerge winners during the next general election.

“I want to laud Ford Kenya fraternity for standing with the party throughout the year during the difficult times from people of ill will, persons whose mission was to destroy the party and move on, they failed in their tracks and have since moved on and the party remains strong, vibrant and focused to the future,” he said.

He was flanked by Bungoma Women Rep Catherine Wambilianga, Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, Bungoma County Assembly Majority Leader Juma Nyongesa and several MCAs.

Yesterday, at the homestead of Tachoni cultural elder Patrick Sitati Lichuma's home in Mikuva village Webuye East, Mr Wetang’ula urged the national and county governments to release bursary funds on time in readiness for the opening of schools in January.

The lawmaker, who was accompanied by Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, also asked residents to vote for Mr Lusaka as their governor in the coming polls.

"Let this cash be released on time so that parents may be able to take their children to school on time without any stress and strain," he said.

Mr Wetang’ula assured the Tachoni community that the issue of Chetambe Hills was firmly being addressed at the Senate.

"There is no cause for alarm as no person will be evicted from their land because with the able leadership of Senate Speaker Lusaka and me, your senator the matter will be addressed," he said.

Mr Wetang’ula also urged Kenyans to engage in peaceful polls that will be free from chaos and violence.

"We as Ford Kenya party and your leaders will ensure that the campaigns are done with respect and dignity so that no single life is lost nor property is destroyed," he said.

He called upon the National Assembly to set aside enough funds for the electoral agency to conduct the 2022 polls without any hitches.

Mr Lusaka, on the other hand, said that the formation of too many small parties was dividing the country.

While it was a democratic right for Kenyans to form political parties, he said, it is dividing the country along ethnic lines.

"In the recent past, everyone seems to be launching his own party.  At this rate, we are going to have parties in every village which isn't good for the unity of this country," Mr Lusaka said.

Mr Lusaka instead said there should exist only two or three strong political parties in the country which one should choose to align with according to their ideologies.

"We want to be like the developed world where they are only few parties with distinct ideologies for one to choose or associate with," Said Mr Lusaka.

He promised to include Tachoni community in his government if elected as governor next year.

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