The meeting that sparked bad blood between Raila and Wetang’ula

The recent declaration by Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga should not contest the presidency in 2017 may have been set off by a stormy strategy meeting between the Cord Principals summoned to identify the coalition’s flag-bearer, the Sunday Nation has learnt.

Cord has been in the news for the wrong reasons in recent days, with Mr Wetang’ula issuing the controversial statement while lamenting his exclusion from the former PM’s tour of Western Kenya.

Frictions within the coalition are thought to have been stirred at the two-day meeting held at the Maanzoni Lodge three weeks ago. The meeting, which the media was kept away from, had been organised to discuss the methodology that Cord will use to select its presidential flag-bearer.

The summit started on Saturday July 2 a day before the homecoming ceremony of Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama following his four-day detention on allegations of hate speech.

“They flew from the meeting to the Muthama event. It was a two-day event, Saturday to Sunday,” one of the people familiar with the meeting told the Sunday Nation.

At the gathering, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Mr Wetang’ula reportedly wanted Mr Odinga to step down and allow the two of them to fight it out between them to be the Cord flag-bearer.

The proposal was to have the loser in the contest between Mr Musyoka and Mr Wetang’ula become the automatic running mate.

Mr Odinga meanwhile was asked to remain a statesman and support the two against the Jubilee ticket of incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.

“The discussion was so similar to another in 2007 when (ODM) Pentagon members said Raila could not be candidate because Kenyans could not elect a Luo. Raila shed tears at that 2007 meeting,” a participant at the closed door meeting said.

Divisions within Cord appeared to deepen on Saturday when Mr Wetang’ula, speaking in Busia, claimed he should be the candidate because of the superior numbers in his base.

“Let Mr Odinga stop imagining that he has Luhyas in his pocket. When the time comes, let him bring his numbers on the table, Kalonzo brings his on the table and Weta brings over 3 million votes on the table and we will talk,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

He argued that he was best placed to face the incumbent.

TRIGGERED DIVISIONS

“With our numerical strength from my base, it’s automatic that I should be Cord presidential candidate. I have got the support of our people and I bring to table more than what others have.”

At the meeting which seemed to have triggered the divisions, Mr Odinga was accompanied by Governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Siaya Senator James Orengo and MPs Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) and Junet Mohammed (Suna East).

Mr Musyoka had by his side Senators Muthama and David Musila (Kitui), MPs Jessica Mbalu (Kibwezi East MP) and John Munuve (Mwingi North) and Martin Kamwaro who is one of the four Wiper party deputy chairpersons.

From Ford Kenya there was Mr Wetang’ula, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, MPs Eseli Simiyu (Tongareni) and Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini) and Irene Kasalu who chairs the party’s Women League Committee.

Hurt by the reasons his co-principals were advancing to lock him out of the race to be the Cord flag-bearer, Mr Odinga threatened that he could shelve his presidential ambitions and refuse to back any candidate in the 2017 elections.

The threat caught Mr Musyoka and Mr Wetang’ula flatfooted as they had not anticipated it.

With Cord leaders heading for a deadlock and tempers flaring, the three principals were asked to leave the meeting room and allow their representatives to discuss amongst themselves the best way to identify the coalition flag-bearer.

It was then proposed that Cord commissions two pollsters to rate various pairings to determine which one would have the best chance against UhuRuto.

With Raila seething over the reasons that his counterparts were using to lock him out, he asked Mr Musyoka and Mr Wetang’ula to pick the pollsters and fund it so that he (Raila) is not accused of influencing the outcome.

Details of the polls, or whether they have been done remain unclear but two MPs confirmed that Cord held such a meeting.

Mr Wamalwa said the discussion was still “in-house” but denied that the meeting was stormy.

“We have three principals and each of them stands an equal chance of flying the Cord flag. It is only that some of their supporters are getting excited and thinking that certain candidates are automatic nominees,” he said as he confirmed the meeting.

(READ: Raila should back me, I have the numbers: Wetang'ula)

He also confirmed that the Cord strategy meeting had discussed the issue of commissioning independent surveys.

“Basically we have to come up with the best methodology of nominating the Cord presidential candidate. We discussed the issue of commissioning a poll but that is work in progress. The main objective is to come up with the best pair. We are doing a risk analysis with various scenarios,” he said.

Though reluctant to delve into the details of the Maanzoni strategy meeting, Mr Mohammed said it was called to discuss the methodology for identifying Cord’s presidential candidate.

RAILA DROPS PRESIDENTIAL BID

“All the three principals can fly the Cord flag in 2017. We only want to find which pairing would be the best. A few issues here and there were discussed. Something (commissioning of a survey) like that came up. A sub-committee was formed for that,” said Mr Mohammed.

In his KTN interview, Mr Wetang’ula criticised the former PM’s western Kenya tour.

“Cord will do well if Raila drops his presidential bid and accepts that he has vied for the seat three times and lost…..he can now support a winning team.”
The Ford Kenya leader also warned Mr Odinga not to be fooled by the huge crowds in his rallies since they do not automatically translate into votes. “You can go to rallies and have a mammoth crowd. Don’t think those are votes...maybe people have just come to see and listen as you talk.” Mr Wetangula said.

The Bungoma senator who has declared his interest in the presidential race claimed that Mr Odinga was receiving hostile treatment in parts of the western region because he (Mr Wetang’ula) had not accompanied the ODM leader.

“When you see these violent scenes it is not because the people don’t like Cord. (Rather) it is because the people are asking ‘Where is Weta?’”

Jubilee-aligned leaders from western Kenya waded into the debate on Saturday, urging Mr Wetang’ula to cross over to the coalition saying Mr Wetang’ula’s claim that Mr Odinga can’t win in 2017 placed Jubilee at an advantage.

“It is obvious that Raila has more political muscle than Wetang’ula and Kalonzo. What our friend has done is a clear admission that none of them can beat the president in the next general elections,” said Water minister Eugene Wamalwa.

The remarks by Mr Wetang’ula had attracted immediate reaction from ODM with the party’s director of communication Philip Etale tweeting that Mr Odinga “will be on the ballot paper in 2017.

That is a fact. Just know that sir.” For ODM and Mr Odinga’s insiders, Mr Wetang’ula’s public attack on the Cord leader is a continuation of what had transpired in Maanzoni Lodge.

Additional reporting by Kennedy Okwatch and Philip Bwayo