This archive report was first published on 31 October 2021.
On October 30, 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta held a crucial meeting with leaders of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) at State House, in a move aimed at uniting the opposition ahead of the 2022 polls.
The meeting brought together ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula. Notably absent were Baringo senator Gideon Moi and ex-Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, who are also members of the OKA team.
According to reports, the President urged the OKA principals to shelve their presidential bids in favor of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, citing concerns that their parallel campaigns were causing confusion among the electorate, particularly in the strongholds of the defunct NASA coalition.
Uhuru also took ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi to task for his remarks suggesting that the country's economy was declining under his watch.
ANC Deputy party leader Ayub Savula clarified that the President's meeting with OKA leaders was merely an appeal for unity, rather than an attempt to compel them to support a particular candidate.
"The President is meeting the OKA leaders at State House because these are people who represent political parties, they have to consult. There is an issue of convincing and as Uhuru said before, opposition leaders have to unite because they have a common enemy but is just an appeal, he cannot force them to support a particular person," Savula stated.
