[National Super Alliance leaders in a past event. Multiple sources within the coalition indicates that Raila odinga is set set to be unveiled as NASA’s flag bearer. Photo/nationa.co.ke]
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga will after all be National Super Alliance flag bearer, indicates multiple sources within the coalition.
The coalition was officially launched on Wednesday in Nairobi even though the technical steering committee did not reveal the flag bearer.
Raila Odinga (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetangula of Ford Kenya are all front runners for the ticket.
But insiders within the coalition reveals that Odinga will be the flag bearer given his vast experience in politics and advanced age among those running for the ticket.
“It doesn’t take a century to tell who we are fronting to challenge Jubilee. The oldest and significantly someone who commands a huge following,” said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“We already know the flag bearer and it is just a matter of time we inform the public. It won’t be a surprise because he has been in politics for a while and has won elections before,” added another source perhaps mentioning Mr. Odinga indirectly.
Understandably, Odinga ran for 2007 elections where he disputed the final results arguing that he had beaten retired President Mwai Kibaki. He was subsequently sworn in as Prime Minister.
According to ODM national chairman John Mbadi, NASA will announce its flag bearer in Mid-March, with just five months to elections.
“The issue of candidate should not bother people. We are announcing in two or three weeks’ time. The technical team has presented everything and it’s just a matter of time,” he said on Wednesday at the NASA headquarters.
Also, a senior ODM lawyer confirmed that the committee had agreed creation of a Chief Minister whose roles would duplicate those of a Prime Minister.
"Creating a position in form of PM would have been challenging because it requires a plebiscite. They agreed on a Chief Minister," he said.
According to the lawyer, who also seats in ODM dispute resolution committee, Odinga will be deputised by Kalonzo while Musalia Mudavadi will be the Chief Minister.
Moses Wetangula's Ford Kenya party has been allocated the slot of Speaker of the Assembly and Leader of Majority in the Senate, should the coalition win more seats in parlaiment.
Further, on Wednesday, ODM Chief Executive Oduor Ongwen rubbished information circulating online that the technical committee had settled on Kalonzo Musyoka as the coalition's flag bearer.