Leaders in the G7 alliance were on Sunday making frantic efforts to calm discontent in the outfit following reports that Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa was pulling out.
The National Alliance (TNA) secretary-general Onyango Oloo insisted Mr Wamalwa was still a G7 member as he had not formally communicated to the group that he had left.
“As TNA, we still need him. He has not communicated us about his withdrawal. If there’s anything he wants us to address, we are ready to discuss,” Mr Oloo told theNation.
The G7 alliance is a political grouping that brings together presidential aspirants Uhuru Kenyatta (TNA), William Ruto (URP), Mr Wamalwa (New Ford Kenya) and Ms Charity Ngilu (Narc).
Mr Wamalwa is the latest member of the G7 alliance to break ranks with the group following a similar move by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper Democratic Movement and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi of the Alliance Party of Kenya.
Mr Oloo said TNA and G7 believes in inclusiveness, values every member of the alliance and that “in fullness of time we hope to address any issues raised by Wamalwa and any other member.”
On Saturday, Mr Wamalwa, who is the New Ford Kenya presidential aspirant, said he has launched a pre-election negotiation pact with other candidates from Western Province, citing mistreatment in G7.
Mr Wamalwa was widely expected to be tapped as Mr Kenyatta’s running mate until the latter entered into a deal with his co-accused at the International Criminal Court, Mr Ruto.
Speaking at Matunda market on the border of Trans Nzoia and Kakamega counties, the Justice minister, who was with Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, said they were reaching out to Trade Minister Moses Wetang’ula and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.
“We are uniting to have higher bargaining power because our friends (G7) are treating us as juniors in talks when we have a lot of votes,” Mr Wamalwa said.
On Sunday, officials close to the TNA and URP leaders said they were set to meet over their plans to sign a pre-election deal. They are also said to be planning a meeting today to be attended by Mr Wamalwa to try and resolve the differences.
Mr Murungi’s APK also cut links with TNA citing betrayal. “We have been betrayed, humiliated and stabbed in the back … not once or twice, but many times by TNA. Enough is enough,” the Energy Minister said at the APK offices in Nairobi. (READ: I won’t return to Uhuru camp, declares Kiraitu)
In Mackakos, ODM and Wiper MPs said they were inching closer to a working coalition before the March 4, 2013 General Election. Leaders from the two parties held a public rally in Machakos Town on Sunday and said a Raila-Kalonzo combination will deliver the presidency next year.
And speaking in Kirinyaga, Mr Mudavadi said he has and remains open to coalition talks. He was reacting to an appeal by Finance Minister Njeru Githae to work with Mr Kenyatta.
Earlier this month, Wiper Democratic Movement said Mr Musyoka would not pursue his presidential ambitions within the G7 alliance. Party chairman David Musila on Friday said Mr Musyoka was seeking fresh partners.
“Kenyans know that we are no longer part of the G7 alliance. In any case, the G7 alliance is not a formal group. I don’t know who the seven leaders are. We were not formal members of the G7 alliance,” he said.
On Sunday, the Grand National Union of assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri also intensified the war of discontent against TNA. Mr Kiunjuri asked TNA to let the other small parties field their own candidates in other posts apart from that of president.
The Kenyatta-Ruto alliance is also facing fresh opposition in the latter’s Rift Valley stronghold with a youth lobby launching vigorous campaigns against it.
The Achicha Wendi Kityo! (No, no he will go it alone!) lobby demonstrated in Kericho Town on Saturday to denounce the pact and have promised to hold similar protests in the region.
On Sunday, Belgut MP Charles Keter questioned the credentials of the group.
By Lucas Barassa, Oliver Mathenge, Timothy Kemei, James Ngunjiri, Bob Odalo and Philip Bwayo
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