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Monday, October 29, 2012

Machakos Wiper officials oppose Kalonzo-Raila talks



MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012 - 00:00 -- BY WAMBUA KAVILA
Jonston Muthama who is  the area MP invites the Prime Minister to address the ODM rally at Tala Town on Thursday
Kangundo MP Johnston Muthama(l) with Prime Minister Raila Odinga greet supporters during an ODM rally at Tala Town on Thursday Photo/PMPS
Wiper party leaders in Machakos have opposed proposed coalition talks between their leader Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prime Minister Raila Odinga of ODM.
Machakos mayor Timothy Kilonzo and local civic leaders said the proposed coalition ''can only see Kalonzo getting the running mate position yet he is already the vice president''.
They said there is no use of the VP engaging Raila, ''because the ODM leader cannot accept to be Kalonzo's running mate in the arrangement''.
'We have tried it before and it ended badly. So we should only work with ODM as a last resort after trying other parties,'' said mayor. He said the VP should call a party's national delegates' conference and seek their opinion on the matter.
''If the VP goes ahead with the talks, he will be engaging in lone-ranger tactics,'' said Kilonzo. The mayor and the civic leaders said Kalonzo ''has proven to be a competent vice president and there is no reason as to why he should not move to the next level''.
''The VP has already assured his supporters of running for the presidency and relegating his position to running mate would not augur well with them,'' they said.
Mayor Kilonzo said there were several other parties that were willing to join wiper and have the VP as they presidential candidate since he commanded national appeal.
The mayor who was accompanied by his deputy Muasa Mbindyo said the VP was among the most experienced presidential hopefuls and should not play second fiddle to anybody.
They added added that the VP should not accept to be anybody's running mate and should wait for others to join him in his quest for president ahead of the general elections.
They were speaking in Machakos town where they also came in support of former government spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua for the Machakos governor seat.
On Thursday,Kangundo mp and joint government whip in parliament Johnson Muthama hosted Raila in Kangundo where he urged the VP to hold talks with the ODM leader with a view of forming a coalition with him.
Returning from an official trip in the middle east on Thursday night,the VP said he could not rule out talks with the ODM leader but had to consult widely with party members.
Apparently, the party leaders in Machakos want nothing to do with ODM and prefer that Kalonzo goes it alone if all avenues of forming coalition with other parties fail.
Wiper party leaders in Machakos have opposed proposed coalition talks between their leader Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prime Minister Raila Odinga of ODM.
Machakos mayor Timothy Kilonzo and local civic leaders said the proposed coalition ''can only see Kalonzo getting the running mate position yet he is already the vice president.''
They said there is no use of the VP engaging Raila, ''because the ODM leader cannot accept to be Kalonzo's running mate in the arrangement''.
'We have tried it before and it ended badly. So we should only work with ODM as a last resort after trying other parties,'' said mayor. He said the VP should call a party's national delegates' conference and seek their opinion on the matter.
''If the VP goes ahead with the talks, he will be engaging in lone-ranger tactics,'' said Kilonzo. The mayor and the civic leaders said Kalonzo ''has proven to be a competent vice president and there is no reason as to why he should not move to the next level''.
''The VP has already assured his supporters of running for the presidency and relegating his position to running mate would not augur well with them,'' they said.
Mayor Kilonzo said there were several other parties that were willing to join wiper and have the VP as they presidential candidate since he commanded national appeal.
The mayor who was accompanied by his deputy Muasa Mbindyo said the VP was among the most experienced presidential hopefuls and should not play second fiddle to anybody.
They added added that the VP should not accept to be anybody's running mate and should wait for others to join him in his quest for president ahead of the general elections.
They were speaking in Machakos town where they also came in support of former government spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua for the Machakos governor seat.
On Thursday,Kangundo mp and joint government whip in parliament Johnson Muthama hosted Raila in Kangundo where he urged the VP to hold talks with the ODM leader with a view of forming a coalition with him.
Returning from an official trip in the middle east on Thursday night,the VP said he could not rule out talks with the ODM leader but had to consult widely with party members.

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