Why Kalonzo ditched Azimio to go it alone

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio One Kenya Alliance presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga are said to could have tried in vain to have Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka accept Narc Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua be Raila’s running mate in vain.

The times Political Desk can now authoritatively reveal that the three held at least three meetings, including one chaired by the President, within 12 hours of Kalonzo announcing his presidential bid.

Sources have told The times Political Desk that the first meeting, attended by Uhuru, Raila, Kalonzo and Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, was held at State House in Nairobi on Sunday.

It was chaired by the President.

The meeting that started at around 6pm, ended past 10pm.

At the meeting, Kalonzo was promised a chief minister position and a handsome share of the government.

“It was at the meeting that they offered him the Chief Minister position. But the catch is, this position is not captured in the coalition agreement. It is hot air,” said an official of the Wiper Party and a close confidante of Kalonzo.

With the State House talks ending in disarray, Raila, alongside KANU’s Gideon Moi, trooped to Kalonzo’s residence in Karen and persuaded him to accept the position but the meeting ended without a deal being struck as Kalonzo stood his ground of wanting nothing less but being Raila’s running mate.

Sources also say that on Monday morning before the unveiling of Karua, Raila went back to Kalonzo’s residence to further the talks in what appeared to be desperate efforts to secure the backing of the Ukambani kingpin but still, the Wiper leader rejected.

Raila in a huff them moved to KICC a dejected man where he unveiled Karua as his running mate while still offering Kalonzo the Chief Minister post.

Meanwhile, at SKM Center in Karen which houses Kalonzo’s campaign secretariat, a defiant Kalonzo unveiled Andrew Ole Sunkuli as his running mate in the upcoming election.

“My brother Raila….. came to my house to try and convince me to accept his choice,” Kalonzo said.

Kalonzo said his party never joined Azimio but was only affiliated to it courtesy of One Kenya Alliance, which Wiper is a founding member.

“My opinion is that Oka continues as originally established and we move on, compare notes,” Kalonzo said.

Sources have also told The Times Political Desk that his negotiations with Raila would continue until at least May 30.

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