New office for Wiper Democratic Movement as party rebrands

Wiper Democratic Movement is relocating to an imposing new party headquarters as it seeks to rebrand and have a national outlook in readiness for the 2022 elections.

Final touches on the new Wiper address – a magnificent three storey building on the Southern bypass in Nairobi, including decorating it with the party’s colours are almost complete ahead of a major launch planned for early next month.

The party led by former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is moving from its Lavington headquarters to the new ultra modern office complex, which party insiders say will rival Jubilee party’s Pangani offices and dwarf the ODM party’s Orange house.

The facility will host the party’s national secretariat as well as provide logistical support to Mr Musyoka’s nationwide outreach programmes and serve as the nerve centre of his 2022 presidential campaign.

According to numerous party sources that spoke to the Nation, the acquisition of a more spacious and easily accessible party headquarters is the first in a series of rebranding activities that will see youthful leaders enticed to assume key roles in the party.

SHIFTING BASE

Party executive director Dr Jared Siso confirmed that the secretariat will be shifting base next week and several activities, including the party’s delegates’ conference, would be held soon to discuss and endorse the planned rebranding and renaming of Wiper party to One Kenya Movement (OKM).

“We’ve been doing our things quietly and by start of next month, we hope to have settled at the new place and start the serious work of reaching out to all Kenyans,” Dr Siso said

The rebranding to One Kenya Movement, he said seeks to strengthen Mr Musyoka’s existing political alliances, build new networks and prepare ground for him to take a second stab at the country’s top seat.

Coming in the wake of the building bridges agenda spearheaded by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga, the heightened activity at Wiper signals Mr Musyoka’s resolve to chart his own political path.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua said the party was engaged in serious internal and external rebranding talks and that new faces will soon be joining Wiper to drive its membership recruitment and outreach programmes.

PERMANENT DECISIONS

“As a party, we are consulting widely on two fronts; rebranding and properly packaging our party leader for the top seat in the country in readiness for 2022 elections,” Senator Wambua said.

Mr Wambua said the party is keen not to make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions.

Wiper chairman Prof Kibwana said Mr Musyoka will be visiting the United Kingdom in July to engage the leaders of Conservative and Labour parties and meet Kenyans living in London as part of efforts to woo the Diaspora for support.

“We are rebranding to embrace all Kenyans and be able to compete with others at national level as we seek the presidency of this country in 2022,” Prof Kibwana, who is also the Governor of Makueni said.

The mood in the party was captured this week when Mr Kivutha Kibwana declared that the Opposition should gel into a formidable political force even without Mr Odinga.

“We ask Kalonzo that from now on, he should not have anybody negotiate for him. A handshake can be only between two people. Raila’s handshake is Raila’s handshake. But now Kalonzo must define his own political trajectory post-2017,” said Mr Kibwana.

NEGOTIATE DEAL

The governor, who helped negotiate the deal between Mr Musyoka and Mr Odinga ahead of last year’s general election, expressed doubts about the future of  Nasa following Mr Odinga’s apparent dalliance with the ruling Jubilee Party.

“We appreciate that the first handshake did change Kenya’s political environment. It was an act of courage and patriotism. But in my humble view, Kalonzo, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula must define their own future politics without reference to the flagship business of 2017. That period is now closed,” he said.

He added that Mr Musyoka should enter into coalitions with other voting blocs in the country and initiate negotiations with President Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and all other national leaders.  Eight years ago, the party adopted a drastic proposal to change its name from ODM Kenya party to Wiper Democratic Movement where its symbols were also changed from one-and-half orange to umbrella.  

The party discarded the one dominant Orange colour which resembled ODM and adopted three colours white for peace, sky blue representing hope and future and earth red symbolising life and vibrancy.

This being the second time the party is overhauling its identity and face; it is not clear whether the party colours and symbols will be changed.

FIXING POLITICAL CRACKS

Prof Kibwana said the party embarked on the task of internal restructuring and fixing political cracks soon after last year’s August elections, beginning with consolidating Ukambani home base.

Mr Musyoka’s party first signed a post-election coalition agreement with Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu’s Narc party and started reaching out to officials who quit the party after suffering defeat at the ballot.

The new agreement may see Mrs Ngilu seek her second term in office in 2022 on Mr Musyoka’s party, just like Prof Kibwana and Ms Ndeti did when they left their parties Muungano and Chama Cha Uzalendo respectively and were handed Wiper party tickets. 

For many years, the politics of Ukambani have been defined by the political rivalry between Mr Musyoka and Mrs Ngilu who has fully thrown her weight behind his bid for presidency in 2022, and with the two senior politicians now singing the same tune, those opposed to the deal will face an uphill task.