Immediate former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo is on the spotlight for causing disquiet with Cord. Sources say Jirongo whose party, Federal Party of Kenya is a member of Cord, has been accused of causing unnecessary competition within the alliance as the scramble for votes and seats take shape ahead of the next elections.
A senior ODM minister who did not want to be named yesterday told the Star that Cord presidential candidate Raila Odinga has summoned a meeting to discuss this "unhealthy competition within the coalition."
“When Cord engaged Jirongo’s party, it was based on a structured formula on how affiliate parties would sponsor their candidates. But what is coming out is a negation of the agreement that had been reached by the coalition partners,” he said.
FPK candidates have already been cleared by the IEBC to vie for various elective seats especially in Western region fueling speculation that the move could eat into ODM’s vote.
Jirongo, who is vying for the Kakamega senator seat is said to have been angered by ODM’s move to front Shangisa Khasiani as his opponent.
This development comes just days after a section of candidates affiliated to Cord in the Nairobi governor race claimed to be under undue pressure to stand down.
At a recent media briefing at the KICC, FPK's Philip Kisia, Ford People's Eric Mokua and Mutinda Kavemba claimed they have been approached by people they failed to name to pull out of the race in support of ODM’s Evans Kidero.
“Approaches have been made that we pull out of the race and support Kidero for the position. I believe this is an affront to individual rights and democratic principles that the coalition leadership has been steadfast in preaching,” said Mokua.
Kisia said Kenyans should be left to elect leaders of their choice. “The days of imposing candidates on people are long gone and I doubt if Cord subscribes to this backward principle,” he said.
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