This archive report was first published on 1 November 2021.
OKA Rejects Uhuru's Plea to Back Raila ¶
Leaders of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) have rejected President Uhuru Kenyatta's plea to back Raila Odinga for the 2022 presidential election.
On Sunday, the leaders met at the Ikulu in Nairobi and later held a rally at the ATG Chapel in Thika, Kiambu County, where they maintained that Kenyans will choose their leaders, not the other way round.
Speaking at the rally, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi said,
“Nyinyi wananchi ndio wenye uwezo kuwachagua viongozi wenu. Tuwache porojo za watu kujaribu kutushurutisha kwa kusema ni lazima awe huyu ama yule. Nilisema hayo nikiwa Kakamega, nitarudia nikiwa hapa na kila mahali. Uongozi hutoka kwa wananchi na lazima wafanye maamuzi yao. Kwa hivyo, chukueni kura, maanake ni nyinyi mtakaoamua yule atakayekuwa kiongozi wa nchi hii. Si viongozi wachache walioketi mahali na kufikiri wataamua wale watakaokuwa viongozi wa Kenya. Tunataka maamuzi hayo kufanywa na kila mpigakura katika kila sehemu ya kaunti zote 47,”
he said.
Other leaders present at the rally included Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetang'ula (Ford-Kenya), Gideon Moi (Kanu), and Cyrus Jirongo.
Speaking at the rally, Cyrus Jirongo said,
“Siku kadhaa zijazo, tutawaeleza Wakenya mpango tulio nao kuelekea uchaguzi ujao,”
he said.
The leaders later held a rally in Makongeni (Thika) and Githurai 45, where they reiterated their stance.
Analysts say the leaders' stance is a sign of President Uhuru Kenyatta's failure to convince them to back Raila Odinga.
Analyst Kipkorir Mutai said,
“Matamshi hayo yanaashiria misimamo mikali waliyo nayo viongozi hao. Ni ishara huenda juhudi za Rais hazikufaulu. Ni ukaidi wa wazi pia ikizingatiwa waliutolea katika Kaunti ya Kiambu, anakotoka Rais Kenyatta,”
he said.
The leaders had earlier planned to hold a series of rallies in Vihiga County, but they were forced to postpone them after President Uhuru Kenyatta met with them at the Ikulu in Nairobi.
ANC deputy leader Ayub Savula said,
“Wakati wa mikutano ya hoteli umeisha. Huu ni mwanzo wa msururu wa mikutano ambapo tutazuru kila mahali kukutana na Wakenya na kuwaambia ajenda tulizo nazo kufufua uchumi wa nchi,”
he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to meet with Raila Odinga again after the latter returns from a trip to Dubai.
On August 10, President Uhuru Kenyatta met with the OKA leaders and Raila Odinga after the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court to nullify the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Analysts say President Uhuru Kenyatta will have to change his strategy if he is to convince the OKA leaders to back Raila Odinga.
