A section of Wiper leaders has claimed that Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga cannot win if Kalonzo Musyoka is not his running mate.
The leaders asked Raila to declare Kalonzo as his running mate as soon as possible to avert the confusion in the Azimio camp.
The leaders included; Dan Mwazo (Taita Taveta gubernatorial aspirant), Miko Sonko (Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant) and his running mate Ali Mbogo.
If Raila doesn’t want to go to State House, then let him abandon his co-driver whom he has run with in two elections, because he won’t get there without Kalonzo
Dan Mwazo
The three spooke in the presence of Kalonzo as the Wiper leader begun his tour of the coast.
“If Raila doesn’t want to go to State House, then let him abandon his co-driver whom he has run with in two elections, because he won’t get there without Kalonzo,” said Mwazo.
Thrice running mate
He claimed that Kalonzo has shelved his presidential ambition twice to support Raila, in 2013 and 2017.
“Kalonzo has been Raila’s co-driver twice, and the co-driver is the one who directs the driver,” said Mwazo.
“If our party leader cannot be the deputy, then Raila too can’t be president,” he said.
“If we remove our three million votes from Azimio, then Raila cant get it. The choice is his, and if he wants to get to state house, he has to go with Kalonzo Musyoka, and if he doesn’t, let both of them lose,” he said.
Three million strong
He said Kalonzo is capable of garnering over three million votes across the country.
“Kalonzo has been a Vice President, and deputized Raila two times. It is only logical for Kenyans to reward Musyoka with the deputy president position,” he said.
The leaders said they will be campaigning for Kalonzo as the deputy president during his tour of the coast.
Sonko said Kalonzo has done a lot in the country and cannot be subjected to interviews before being picked as a running mate.
This should be a warning. Look at the political dynamics. Declare Kalonzo as your running mate today and let us move on with the campaigns
Sonko
He noted that he has at least 1.5 million votes, and can transfer the same to Kalonzo to make him garner up to five million votes in an election.
“We respect Raila and we believe those surrounding him are the ones causing confusion,” said Sonko.
He said it is such confusion which cost Raila 2007 presidency, with Kalonzo’s support providing the much needed strength to President Mwai Kibaki camp.
“This should be a warning. Look at the political dynamics. Declare Kalonzo as your running mate today and let us move on with the campaigns,” said Sonko.
Favour
Ali Mbogo, Sonko’s running mate in the Mombasa County gubernatorial race claimed that Kalonzo currently has a stronger base than Raila.
He said Kalonzo’s acceptance of the running mate position is indeed a favour, as he can mount a strong presidential battle.
“Ours is to ensure Azimio team get maximum votes in Mombasa, and with Raila as the president and Kalonzo the running mate,” said Mbogo.
Kalonzo dismissed the method of picking the running mate through an interview, saying the issue can be sorted politically.
“We need political solutions to some of these things,” said Kalonzo.
He however confirmed that Wiper Party has submitted his name for consideration for the running mate position.
Kamba leaders have insisted that ‘Kalonzo must be respected’. They have a point. This is an opportunity to position Kalonzo as a formidable Dp and future president.