Raila Odinga to attend Wiper party convention

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga is expected to attend the Wiper Party National Delegates Convention (NDC) on Thursday.

The Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka command centre, which is spearheading the Wiper Party leader’s campaigns, confirmed to the Nation that Mr Odinga, One Kenya Alliance (OKA) principals Musalia Mudavadi of Amani National Congress, Gideon Moi (Kanu) and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula as well as representatives of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party will be at the event to be held at Kasarani Sports Complex, Nairobi.

Wiper Party vice-chairman Mutula Kilonzo Jr said Mr Odinga would also be at the meeting.

“We have invited OKA principals. I’m told Mr Odinga is also expected,” Mr Kilonzo said yesterday.

ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna later said Mr Odinga would be at the Wiper Party NDC.

Mr Musyoka, Mr Mudavadi and Mr Wetang’ula severed links with Mr Odinga, leading to the collapse of the National Super Alliance (Nasa). The three later joined hands with Mr Moi to form OKA.

The OKA leaders have been attending consultative meetings convened by President Kenyatta.

The President is said to be attempting to bring them together with a view of creating a formidable force against Deputy President William Ruto next year.

Mr Kilonzo said the approval of plans to form a coalition would be one of the key agenda items at the meeting.

“Our agenda is to change the party constitution, colours, appoint new officials, endorse Mr Musyoka for presidency and approve coalition-making,” Mr Kilonzo said.

Wiper co-vice-chairman Victor Swanya said the outfit has proposed an additional party organ—the Coalition Coordination Committee.

“This organ will strengthen party governance and position the party and our leader Musyoka in a structured way to negotiate with like-minded partners and form coalitions to win many seats in the national and county assemblies and emerge victorious in the elections next year,” Mr Swanya said.

He added that there are other proposed constitutional changes geared towards strengthening Wiper as a grassroots movement.

“The new structure embraces the youth, women, the marginalised and the disabled,” Mr Swanya said. 

Early this month, the party issued a notice on a planned change of name and colours ahead of the elections.

In a notice to the Registrar of Political Parties on November 4, it expressed a wish to drop “Kenya” from its name so that the party becomes Wiper Democratic Movement and not Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya.

The party also said it was planning to change its colours from bold sky blue, white and earth red to royal blue, white and earth red.

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