NASA to hold urgent meeting on Monday

Details have emerged that Nasa chiefs Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi will be holding a crucial meeting on Monday next week after perceived rifts in the Opposition over recent House leadership and Peoples’ Assembly inauguration plans.

The plans to have the People’s Assembly in Ukambani was put on hold, with Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, who is also Wiper chairman, divulged that the “Nasa house leadership ought to be put in order to enable other processes.”

House Leadership positions

A disquiet emerged in the Opposition when Odinga’s ODM mulled nearly all key positions in both National and Senate Assemblies, a move that ANC and Wiper have openly protested.

“Wiper has a right to speak out if it feels shortchanged. On Monday, Raila, Kalonzo, Musalia and I will meet. Wiper will tell us where they are uncomfortable,” Mr Wetang’ula stated.

Contacted for a comment, ODM's Communications Director Mr Phillip Etale told Pulse Live Kenya on phone that he was not aware of such a meeting adding that "I have been out of town for the last five days, so I am not aware."

Swearing-in event

Early this week, former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale criticised the abrupt change of plans, chiding his successor Cleophas Malala, whom he termed a joker for giving the Opposition leader a Bible to take oath, in a rather ‘low key event’ in Kakamega on Sunday.

“I personally believed that swearing in Raila Odinga was a serious, formal & dignified solemn national issue, complete with constitutional and legal protocol. Now with these senators purporting to conduct the exercise in Kakamega, Kenyans must be forgiven if they take us for jokers!” Dr Khalwale tweeted earlier.

Disagreement in NASA over Hose committee seats

On Thursday, Wiper put off a planned People’s Assembly forum that had been scheduled by NASA affiliate parties to take place in Machakos on Sunday, January 14.

In a meeting chaired by the Former Vice President, Wiper’s National Executive Council resolved to put off the People’s Assembly forum until the disagreements, which could put in disarray plans to swear in Odinga as the “People’s president”, are resolved.

“There has been some disquiet about the sharing of House Committee positions and we have asked our party leader at the summit to talk about this issue which is not a light matter. There was an agreement between the principals about how those seats were going to be shared so that there is equity in the coalition,” the Makueni Governor said.

He added: “We have tentatively resolved to have the dates changed from this Sunday and we shall be having it done on the 19th.

“We have agreed that the Ukambani governors; myself, Charity Ngilu and Wavinya Ndeti will meet so that we can arrange how the people’s assembly of lower eastern will happen.”