Raila’s mega event at Kasarani sparks confusion in NASA

janet ndila

April 22, 2017 9:30 AM

Tension.

ODM leader Raila Odinga

Confusion has marred the National Super Alliance (NASA) after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) announced on Friday that they would hold a National Delegates Convention on May 4 at Kasarani to anoint Raila Odinga as the presidential candidate.

In a press statement, ODM director of communication Philip Etale said that all party organs and delegates countrywide are expected to attend the convention.

“The main agenda for the event will be the nomination of the ODM presidential candidate,” part of the statement read.

This could now contravene the rally at Bomas by the principals who stated they would name the presidential candidate and his running mate on Thursday next week at Uhuru park.

It could also indicate NASA co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetangula and Isaac Ruto have settled on Odinga as the coalition flagbearer since the event comes exactly one week after they officially name their line-up.

A source close to the principals revealed that Wetangula and Mudavadi had managed to convince Kalonzo to allow the former Prime Minister to face off with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“It's Musalia and Wetang'ula who pleaded with Kalonzo to let Raila be the candidate. So essentially, Raila was the compromise candidate,” the source disclosed.

During the event at Bomas, Odinga, Kalonzo, Wetangula, and Mudavadi welcomed Ruto as the fifth principal of the alliance and relaunched pentagon.

"Today we welcome a fifth member. With Ruto on board, we have a new general particularly for our battle to protect and preserve devolution," Raila stated.

janet ndila