War of words in NASA over Raila Odinga’s 2022 candidacy

National Super Alliance (NASA) former co-principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Musalia Mudavadi have been embroiled in a war words after after the ODM leader announced on Saturday that he would not endorse any of the former co-principals for presidency.

Raila said the former NASA leaders cannot be trusted with leadership mantle after they abandoned him at the hour of need during his swearing-in as the People’s President after the disputed 2017 repeat presidential elections.

“When we were going for the swearing-in, in Nairobi they refused. They switched off their phones and they were shivering due to fear. They now want me to give them the mantle by supporting them,” said Raila.

In response, Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka separately termed the 2018 Peoples President swearing-in at Uhuru Park illegal, and accused him political deceit. “I don’t need your endorsement. I refused to participate in your illegal swearing-in as People’s President because I am a senior counsel.” Kalonzo said.

Mudavadi through his spokesman Kibisu Kabatesi accused the ODM leader of faking the “illegal swearing-in to accelerate his yearning for a handshake” with President Uhuru Kenyatta. Mudavadi claimed Raila pulled out of the repeat presidential elections after negotiating the handshake with Uhuru.

“But there is more cowardice to pull out of a repeat election, disguised as protest of pre-rigged outcome, when in actual fact it’s only because the act is part of a pre-arranged settlement for yourself,” Musalia said.

But ODM through its Secretary General Edwin Sifuna hit back, calling Mudavadi a failed politician whom Raila beat hands down in 46 counties with a virtual tie in his home county when he contested the presidency on his own in 2013.

Sifuna poked holes at the new alliance bringing together Musalia, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula as “Raila niachie Alliance”.

On his part, Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula, however, said he did not want to be dragged into a war of words with Raila.

Commenting on the endorsement debate by his competitors, Deputy President William Ruto said his competitors should go to the people directly and stop waiting to be endorsed or handed the baton

Recently, Raila Odinga told voters in Central Kenya that they owed him a political debt dating from the 60s when his father supported Jomo Kenyatta, to when he said Kibaki Tosha to his recent handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.