This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
As the dust settles on the declaration by ODM that NASA is dead, the ANC and Wiper parties are reeling from the shock. The two parties, which have long relied on the ODM wave to propel their leaders to the presidency, now find themselves in a precarious position.
With the ODM party firmly behind Raila Odinga, the leaders of ANC and Wiper, Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka, respectively, are facing an uphill task in their bid to become president in 2022. Both leaders have declared their intention to run for the top seat, but their ambitions are now in jeopardy.
One of the major challenges facing Mudavadi and Musyoka is the lack of numbers that can propel them to the presidency. Moreover, they have lost their critical political allies who have decided to work with the ODM party and Raila Odinga.
In ANC, a number of vocal leaders who were elected to parliament under the party's ticket have defected to Raila's camp. These leaders, including Geofrey Osotsi and Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, have been traversing the Kibra constituency to campaign for ODM candidate Imran Okoth, despite ANC having a candidate.
Similarly, Kalonzo Musyoka is facing a rebellion in his Ukambani backyard from governors who have decided to work with Raila Odinga. Charity Ngilu of Kitui, Kivutha Kibwana of Makueni, and Alfred Mutua of Machako have all joined Raila's camp, leaving Musyoka's presidential ambitions in tatters.
