Cord line up unveiled as strategy talks continue

By Jacob Ng’etich

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy has agreed on its line-up to be unveiled today at Uhuru Park, but power sharing remains sticky with the three main partners differing on how to execute it.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga of ODM will be the flag bearer, while Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper will be his running. Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetangula will be the Majority Leader.

However, the parties are yet to agree on the mode of sharing power.

While ODM is calling for sharing of government proportionally according to the votes they bring, WDP insists on equally percentage for the three main parties and a certain percentage left for smaller parties.

Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno said they were still in consultation and the country should be patient and wait for the unveiling of the formula. “It is not in the interest of the coalition to divulge the details now, but we will share with Kenyans the information we have agreed on,” said Otieno.

Defence Assistant minister David Musila said they had not finalised talks, which he said would extend late in the evening ahead of launch of the Cord team at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, on Saturday.

 “We are still talking and we do not want to share details of our talks because we have not yet finalised. We will tell the nation tomorrow,” said Musila.

The three principals in Cord graced the two-day talks that were also attended by the technical committee of the coalition including ODM Chairman Henry Kosgey, Local Government minister Paul Otuoma, Kimilili MP Eseli Simiyu, Nominated MP Mohamed Affey, and People’s Democratic Party leader Omingo Magara. Apart from the three main parties, there were representatives of 14 others that signed a pre-election coalition deal with Cord at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre on December 4.

They include Kalembe Ndile’s The Independent Party, Kadu Asili, Kenya, Social Congress Mkenya Solidarity of Maina Njenga, Wavinya Ndeti’s Chama Cha Uzalendo, and Muungano Party, among others.

Musila said they were much closer and more united now as a coalition than ever before and assured Kenyans that they would hold.

“I can assure you we are now more united that before. We are moving forward with the consultations,” he said. Also unresolved is the issue of which areas they hold nominations.

A source at the meeting said they are yet to agree on joint nominations in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nakuru.

However, those opposed to the joint nominations in these areas are saying that similar process should be done in Kisumu, Bungoma and the lower Eastern region where all the coalition parties enjoy following.