Kalonzo reveals why Raila picked Karua as his running mate in 2022 polls
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Kalonzo says Raila picked Karua as his running mate in the last 2022 polls as a strategy to win more votes from Kenyan women
Kalonzo says Raila picked Karua as his running mate in the last 2022 polls as a strategy to win more votes from Kenyan women.
On Tuesday, June 12, Wiper party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka disclosed his final chat with Raila Odinga, the co-principal of Azimio la Umoja, which caused him to give up his ambition to be the next president’s running mate.
Speaking at the opening of a dormitory at Miumbuni Secondary School, Kalonzo disclosed that he acted in the coalition’s best interests.
Kalonzo reaffirmed his conviction that Azimio won the August 9, 2022, presidential election while mentioning how Raila persuaded him that Martha Karua would garner more support as a running mate.
“We were in Yatta Farm the other day for Thanksgiving even though I was not on the ballot.
“Raila called me and explained that if we picked Karua, she would bring all women votes in Kenya,” Kalonzo detailed why his name missed from the ballot for the first time since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
Kalonzo explained further that he took time to ponder Raila’s request before accepting to step down for Karua.
“After Raila requested me, I went to my farm to reflect. I agreed with him because we had been on the ballot in 2013 and 2017, so I thought it would be okay to re-strategise,” he revealed why he accepted to drop out of the race.
Kalonzo, though, maintained that Raila had won the 2013, 2017, and 2022 presidential elections.
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“In 2013 we won. This scenario repeated itself in 2017 and 2022 and that is why you saw us protesting,” the Wiper Party leader remarked.
During the event, Kalonzo called out former governors Kivutha Kibwana, Alfred Mutua, and Charity Ngilu for double-speak during the campaign period.
“Before I joined Azimio, they were vocal that I should cross over but changed tune when I heeded the call,” he regretted.
In April 2022, Mutua accused Kalonzo of selfishness and blackmail while registering Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition.
While Raila convened a reconciliation meeting immediately after Mutua’s outburst, the now Foreign Affairs Minister left the coalition a month after the much-publicized disagreement.
Kivutha Mutua, a former governor of Makueni, did the same and departed Azimio just after the general election in August 2022.
Charity Ngilu, a former governor of Kitui, remained in Azimio but has notably been absent from all of the coalition’s events.
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