NASA leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka at a past event. [Photo/citizentv.co.ke]
After the much-hyped January 30 swearing-in, NASA leader Raila Odinga will have a new daunting task to ensure that the coalition remains united ahead of the 2022 general election.NASA’s unity has been tested in the past few weeks, something that had threatened to derail the Raila-Kalonzo swearing-in plan. The point of departure among coalition partners is the alleged dominance of Raila's ODM party in the unity pact signed in January 2017.On Sunday, January 20, during a people's assembly forum in Mombasa, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka revisited the contentious issue even as he insisted that ODM should surrender some House leadership positions to Wiper. For NASA to survive for the next five years, Raila will have to ensure that matters to do with party unity are dealt with. Then there is the issue of Kalonzo and Musalia Mudavadi's 2022 State House bids. The two NASA principals are keen to inherit Raila's political base during the next general election. Raila has in the past insisted that he will support Kalonzo's 2022 bid, something which he confirmed during the people's assembly meeting in Machakos after being pressured by Wiper Chairman Kivutha Kibwana to declare that he would back Kalonzo in the 2022 contest.The Mudavadi factor, however, complicates the math. The ANC leader is equally interested in the race to State House. Mudavadi’s close political associates are already assembling his machinery preparing for his second stab at the Presidency.As to what will happen after the Raila’s swearing-in remains to be seen. But for the former Premier, maintaining unity in NASA remains one of his biggest tasks for the next five years.