Two days before yesterday’s One Kenya Alliance (OKA) press statement, it was appearing that the outfit would have at least five principals in the name Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, UDP’s Cyrus Jirongo and ODM presidential ticket nomination hopeful Jimmy Wanjigi.
But that was not the case when the alliance held a joint press conference in Nairobi yesterday. One figure was missing and that was the later.
According to a story published by Nation.Africa, business tycoon Jimmy Wanjigi has reportedly been ‘kicked out of’ talks with OKA principals over allegations that he is Deputy President William Ruto’s mole.
Mr Wanjigi has been at loggerheads with Mr Odinga, accusing the Azimio La Umoja Presidential flagbearer of being a betrayer.
Wanjigi, who was instrumental in the National Super Alliance (Nasa) campaigns in 2017, where Mr Odinga was the presidential candidate and Mr Musyoka his running mate before they fell out after the March 9, 2018 ‘Handshake’ between the ODM leader and President Kenyatta, has announced vying for the big seat.
However, it has been reported that the businessman had been kicked out of the OKA talks after some members raised concerns on his serial attacks on Raila Odinga.
The four OKA principals then formally signed an MoU to work together and engage with other like-minded partners for broader coalition ahead of the August 9 General Elections, a scenario that could justify Wanjigi’s conspicuous absence from the table.
Interesting questions; volcanic answers! @TheWiperParty PL @skmusyoka today hosted fellow OKA Principals @MoiGideon @MarthaKarua & @CyrusJirongo for the Deed of Assignment signing ceremony.#OKAVolcano#HakikaTutaweza pic.twitter.com/7eiFLOUrui
— Paloma Gatabaki (@PalomaGatabaki) February 2, 2022
When asked why Mr Wanjigi was a no show at the event, Mr Musyoka pointed out that Mr Wanjigi had stated that he was a member of Mr Odinga’s ODM party, which is not a member of OKA.
“Wanjigi is not on the table until they resolve their issues in ODM,” Mr Musyoka said, a statement that Wanjigi later refuted, asking if he was even a member of OKA.
“Was I ever in OKA?” He posed.
However, the OKA presser virtually hinted at working with Azimio La Umoja as they ruled out any chances of working with Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance (KKA), leaving Raila Odinga as the only possible available partner they can work with – now that Kenya has only three alliances at the moment.