Kalonzo convenes wiper aspirants meet

Kalonzo Musyoka (centre) after the delegates endorsed him to fly the Wiper flag. [PHOTOS: FILE/STANDARD]

By Geoffrey Mosoku

KENYA: Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has convened an aspirants meeting of his Wiper party this week to discuss the impeding nominations.

Kalonzo has invited all the aspirants and grassroots leaders from Ukambani region on Friday in Machakos ahead of the nominations slated for 10th January.

“His excellency the Vice President and Wiper party leader has the pleasure to invite leaders and all aspirants from lower Eastern region for a meeting to be held at Machakos Golf Club from 10 am,” an SMS sent to aspirants by the party secretariat yesterday read.

The VP according to party officials will use the occasion to reassure all aspirants that no one will be favoured during the nominations and that the exercise will be carried out in a fair and free manner.

He has severally in the past ruled out any direct nomination for any seat.

Kalonzo who will be Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s running mate in the March 4 polls under the Cord alliance, will use the occasion to highlight to party members how the coalition will work during the coming elections.

Wiper party which is in the Cord alliance has exclusive rights to field candidates in its stronghold of Ukambani, with Raila’s party retaining the same rights in Luo Nyanza.

However, some leaders such as Kangundo MP Johnstione Muthama are pushing for the conversion of Cord into a strong party to avoid a confusion of having a president being supported by multiple of parties.

All aspirants from the positions of County representatives, Women representatives, MPs, senator and governorship have been invited.

The meeting will also discuss the best method of conducting the nominations with some aspirants supporting a collegiate system while others want universal suffrage.

Wiper ambassadors’ national coordinator and Yatta parliamentary aspirant Francis Mwangangi confirmed receiving the invite adding that the issue of the criteria to be used will be agreed upon.

“We know some of our colleagues especially sitting MPs purchased party cards which they will distribute during the nominations yet some of us prefer the sue of party membership register during the nominations,”  Mwangagi said.

According to new timelines realised by IEBC, parties have until January 18th to conduct their internal primaries and return nominations papers to the electoral body.

So far, apart from Wiper and its partner ODM who have announced dates for their primaries, it’s not clear if other parties such as Ford Kenya and small parties forming the alliance will hold their nominations on the same day.