I am still in State House race, Kalonzo assures supporters

By Peter Atsiaya and Ben Ahenda

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has not quit the presidential race despite engaging in alliance talks with Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

Kalonzo said he was the best leader to succeed President Kibaki and his bid for alliance does not mean he was opting out of the race.

“I am ready to work with my brother Mudavadi for the sake of Kenyans. I am not like other leaders engaged in political marriages for selfish interests,” said Kalonzo.

He added: “But I am not saying that I am pulling out of the race for presidency”.

The VP was addressing his supporters at Nabongo grounds in Mumias as he began a tour of the region, the home turf of Mudavadi.

He opened a Wiper Democratic Party (WDP) office in the town and later made a triumphant entry into Kakamega town escorted by motor cycles operators as chanting party slogans.

He stated that his political agreement with other presidential aspirants was meant to unite Kenyans and ensure the country had a peaceful election.

Peace ambassador

“I am an ambassador for peace and I have demonstrated this by brokering peace in neighbouring countries and that is what I stand for in any alliance,” he added.

The VP told Kenyans to stop speculation over the alliance talks with Mudavadi.

“Lets us not speculate too much because the talks are still going on although I assure our supporters that there would be a white smoke at the end,” he said.

Kalonzo wants to form an alliance with Mudavadi after he was sidelined by key leaders in the G7 alliance led by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto. A team of MPs allied to both leaders is working on a pact.

Mudavadi is represented by Ikolomani MP Dr Boni Khalwale while Mwingi South legislator David Musila represents Kalonzo in the negotiation team.

Kalonzo asked Kenyans to turn up in large numbers and register as voters in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

Meanwhile, Former Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara yesterday condemned an incident where Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua was harassed and stopped from holding a rally.

Mrs Kihara in statement demanded police investigate and charge those responsible for the crime.

“It’s a shame for this to happen in her backyard when she has had peaceful campaigns in other parts of the country,” she said.

Mrs Kihara said democracy demands that every individual has the right to freely express their opinion and be associated with their political ideology. She said if the law enforcers are not able to contain such ugly scenarios, then the electioneering time will be worse and may lead the country into another scale of violence. “Leaders need to respect others and its height of impunity to use the youth to disrupt perceived opponent meetings,” she said.

Ms Karua’s meeting was disrupted after youth said to have been over 100 who invaded her function.