Wiper Party directs Kalonzo to work with Azimio under 'structured dialogue'

Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party has resolved to work with Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition after all.

The Wiper party Organising Secretary Robert Mbui announced the development on Monday

While making the announcement, Mbui said the decision for Kalonzo to work with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga followed a protracted meeting which was held on Monday in Machakos.

Sources intimate to the Monday Machakos meeting said out of 50 Wiper party aspirants, 45 aspirants subscribed to the idea that Kalonzo should return to the Azimio coalition.

The almost unanimous support paved the way for Mbui to announce that Kalonzo will rejoin the Azimio coalition albeit under structured dialogue.

Wiper party, out of fear of being left out of the next government if Azimio wins the August election asked Kalonzo to exhaust all dispute resolution avenues within the coalition.

“Because we had already agreed to work under the Azimio One Kenya Alliance, maybe it is time that we exhaust all the options that were available under the alliance. Because there’s a dispute resolution mechanism under that alliance,” Mbui said.

“So we are asking our party leader that we do reconsider the possibility of having further discussions on this coalition arrangement.”

Mbui also said Wiper's decision to submit Kalonzo’a name to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for his presidential bid was occasioned by the lack of a structured dialogue between him and the Azimio coalition.

However, Mbui cautioned that in case the talks hit another snag, they will rally behind Kalonzo all the way to the ballot.

He also distanced the Wiper party from any association or talks with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

This fresh development comes even after Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo denied knowledge of any ongoing talks between Kalonzo and the Azimio coalition.

“I am not aware of any negotiations between our party leader and the Azimio faction. We have not had any engagement with them so far,” Maanzo said.

Maanzo said that in the event of such engagements materialising they would be made public to avoid any speculation or misconception.

Kalonzo who is said to be out of the country is yet to issue an official statement on his return to the Azimio fold.

He announced his move to leave the Azimio coalition after Raila Odinga, in a historic move unveiled Martha Karua as his presidential running mate in the August election last Monday.

He rejected Raila Odinga's Chief Cabinet Secretary position that was offered if Azimio wins the August election.