NASA co-principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka addressing the press. [Photo: zipo.co.ke]
The National Super Alliance (NASA) is facing unity test after Wiper and Ford Kenya leaders cancelled Tuesday meetings meant to discuss nomination rules.
Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Moses Wetangula of Ford Kenya, both NASA co-principals, are said to have cancelled the meetings to “calm down” the standoff that could threaten the Opposition unity.
Wiper Secretary General Hassan Omar had openly opposed plans to have joint NASA nominations.
Omar said the four NASA parties should hold separate primaries, saying the joint nominations might be shambolic.
The Mombasa senator said that the Wiper National Executive Committee meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum.
Omar has declared interest in becoming Mombasa governor, a seat currently held by ODM's Hassan Joho.
A join NASA nomination would mean Omar and Joho would face off in the primaries, and not the August 8 polls.
Omar says joint NASA nomination should only be done for the presidential ticket but not other seats.
“If we were to have joint primaries, why couldn’t we dissolve the parties? As at now, all these parties are independent entities. We must not bury our heads in the sand because some of these concerns being raised are real and that is why Jubilee is already having problems,” the Wiper leader was quoted by the Standard.
However, Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi on Wednesday downplayed reports that there was tension within the Opposition coalition.
Mudavadi told Opposition supporters to stay calm as there is no major crisis in NASA.
“I would want to ask NASA supporters not be worried because what is going on is just a debate on the best approach to take. No party fears a joint nomination process. We are all ready as coalition partners,” he said.
Political parties will hold their nominations between April 13 and 26.