NASA co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi, Raila Odinga and Moses Wetangula. Photo: nation.co.ke
Sources within the National Super Alliance (NASA) have revealed that talks to identify the ideal presidential candidate for the Opposition have collapsed.
The technical committee that was picked by the four NASA co-principals to devise a formula to nominate a presidential candidate has reportedly failed to reach an agreement.
A retreat that was to be held this coming weekend is highly unlikely to take place because the 12 member team has “no substantial” conclusions.
The Opposition is expected to name its presidential candidate by end of March.
Another stalemate facing NASA is the failure to agree on whether to or not hold joint nominations.
Wiper, Ford Kenya and Amani National Congress leaders have since dismissed the joint nominations proposal.
Last week Thursday, NASA co-principal and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula said, ““There will be no joint nominations other than for the position of coalition President under Nasa.”
Wiper Secretary General and Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar has been on record criticizing the joint nomination proposal, which could see him face off with ODM deputy party leader Hassan Joho for the Mombasa governor ticket.
On Sunday, Lugari MP Ayub Savula said that the four NASA parties (ODM, ANC, Ford Kenya and Wiper) had agreed to hold separate primaries.
“We have been informed (by the coordinating committee) that the story of joint nominations has failed,” said the MP.
An MP who is privy to the discussions within NASA, said Wiper party leader Kalonzo was frustrating the talks to identify the opposition’s flag bearer.
The source also accused Wiper of poaching politicians from the other NASA parties silently, specifically ODM, led by Raila.
“We are not agreeing on anything. The situation is getting desperate as we are constantly distracted by one MP from (former) Eastern Province who has apparently adopted a hard-line stance on everything,” he said, as quoted by the Nation.
ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi has, however, maintained that there’s no cause for alarm over the talks within NASA.