Emerging reports from a local daily show that the future of One Kenya Alliance is in shambles after Kanu chairman Gideon Moi reportedly decamped to throw his weight behind the candidacy of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
KANU and ODM are reportedly formulating a 2022 coalition that also includes Jubilee Party.
The latest decision will likely anger Moi’s other OKA principals who had vowed not to form an alliance with the ODM party.
According to The Star Newspaper, Kanu stalwarts and Moi prefer a coalition with Raila.
It is believed that the move has been informed by advice from President Kenyatta.
Political pundits now believe that Uhuru has already decided on supporting Raila as his preferred candidate to face off with Deputy President William Ruto in the 2022 polls.
There are already ongoing negotiations between ODM and Jubilee as the country nears the 2022 general elections.
During the President’s visit to Nyanza early this month, he said his handshake with Raila is a long-term engagement that will go into the future.
“When the President finally makes his choice known, we want to be within the circles and as a party; we have studied the dynamics and we can see where to bet for 2022,” a top Kanu official confided to the Star.
Gideon abandoned OKA as the other principals in the coalition– Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) – insisted the group is intact.
“We shall be part and parcel of the President’s succession plan. But what is important is that we must first align our party the best way through collaborations with other like-minded parties like ODM,” a senior Kanu official who sought anonymity said.
Gideon Moi failed to attend a meeting by the three OKA principals last week on Tuesday in Nairobi.
The trio later said in a statement that they met as Nasa and not OKA leaders, perhaps to downplay Gideon’s absence.
“They (Kalonzo, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula) resolved to issue a comprehensive statement on the state of Nasa in due course,” the press statement said.
The development could throw Musalia and Kalonzo’s presidential bids into jeopardy. The two have insisted they will not rally behind Raila again as a presidential candidate.
On Saturday, Raila said that the formation of a heavy political machine is in the works. The formation, which he said will transform into a “tsunami”, will sweep the country in next year’s general election.
“There is a strong wind coming. It is heavy. It will turn into a tsunami. That is why I want our people to know that we know where we are going.”
