Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka left many Kenyans in confusion after he decided to pull out of the senate speaker race during the final moments.
In an interview with a local newspaper, Kalonzo said that he chose not to compete with former Kilifi governor Amason Kingi because of a decision that Azimio leaders arrived at.
The leaders including Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga and Azimio senators reportedly had a late night meeting on Wednesday and the former VP’s command center in Karen.
The decision to keep of the race was reached when the team learned that the elections would be marred by malpractices.
“The decision was not impromptu. I was well guided by my party and the Azimio top leadership after we realized the process had been marred with bribery. We decided that we needed to keep it clean and in that case, step out of the race,” Kalonzo said and further shutdown claims that he bolted out of the race over fear of being defeated by Kingi.
The decision came even when Kalonzo had pushed former National Assembly speaker Kenneth Marende out of the race even though majority of Azimio members believed that Marende stood a better chance to clinch the seat. An MP from Kisumu suggested that Kalonzo’s intention was only to cause further harm to Azimio with his insistence to vie for the senate speaker.
Reports have also emerged that William Ruto-camp reached out to a number of their rivals especially from the coast to vote in Kingi on Wednesday evening and on Thursday morning before voting commenced at The Senate chambers. Kenya Kwanza persuaded them on grounds that Kingi had a better deal for them.
“This is politics and there is nothing wrong with reaching out to our colleagues from the other side. We did it so well and it worked for us. You go for the strategy that can give you a win against your competitor,” a senator allied to Kenya Kwanza revealed.
When a group of Azimio senators walked out of the chamber after their tactics to have the elections postponed failed, 10 of them remained behind and voted for Kingi.
Those who remained behind include; Kilifi senator Stewart Madzayo (ODM) who was vying for deputy speaker position, Kwale’s Juma Boy (ODM), Joseph Githuku (Lamu, Jubilee), Mohamed Faki (Mombasa, ODM), and Taita Taveta’s Johnes Mwaruma (ODM).
Others are Okiya Omtatah (Busia, NRA), Abdul Haji (Garissa, Jubilee), Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo, Jubilee), Prof Margaret Kamar (nominated, Jubilee), and Turkana Senator James Lomenen (Jubilee).
RELATED STORY:Wetang’ula Addresses Claims Of ‘Mocking’ Kalonzo For Bolting Out Of Speaker Race
