Nasa technical committee finally makes long awaited decision on presidential candidate

dennis kibet

March 24, 2017 7:25 AM

The confidential report has already been presented to Nasa’s 12-man coordinating committee made tasked to spearhead the coalition’s operations.

Opposition leaders (from left) Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetang'ula, Musalia Mudavadi and Raila Odinga at Nairobi Serena Hotel on January 31,2017.

The National Super Alliance (Nasa) technical committee that was tasked with recommending the flag bearer and the presidential candidate has finally reached its decision.

The committee has recommended that Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader be Nasa’s presidential candidate for the August elections to square it off with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The committee in its final recommendation warned that failure to name Raila as the flag bearer would all but guarantee President Kenyatta a sure win and a consecutive second term in office until 2022.

Members of the committee comprising of five technocrats are economist Dr David Ndii, Nairobi University professor Dr Adams Oloo, Kabarak University law professor Elisha Ongoya, former member of the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission Abubakar Zein and ex-Mumias Sugar Company chairman Dan Ameyo.

In its unanimous recommendation, the committee said Raila remains the most formidable candidate and his stepping aside will not translate into automatic votes for any NASA principals.

According to the committee, excluding the ODM leader would bring hazardous ripple effects that would incense majority of the opposition supporters and give Jubilee leeway into pro-Nasa zones and turn them into battlegrounds.

Report already presented

The coordinating committee is co-chaired by Senators James Orengo (ODM, Siaya), Johnson Muthama (Wiper, Machakos), MPs Sakwa Bunyasi (ANC, Nambale) and Eseli Simiyu (Ford Kenya, Tongaren).

The technical committee is likely to be a major test of Nasa’s unity that the principals Raila, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo, Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetangula and ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi have been assuring supporters is well intact with less than five months to the general elections.

Last week, the Wiper Party insisted that the Nasa presidential candidate must be in line with the 2013 Cord MoU before the elections.

According to the MoU, Kalonzo would step down in favour of Raila in 2013 after which the ODM leader would return the favour in 2017.

dennis kibet