We will Not Allow Kalonzo to Attend Raila’s Running Mate Interview, Wiper MPs Vow

Wiper MPs have vowed not to allow their party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to be interviewed for the presidential running mate post in the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition.

Led by Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo, the leaders said Musyoka was Odinga’s running mate in the 2013 and 2017 elections and no interviews were done.

"Our position as the followers of the Wiper Party, the third leg of Azimio-OKA is that the Hon Kalonzo Musyoka should not apply to the committee that was set up to interview for the position of the deputy president of Azimio-OKA," Maanzo said on Tuesday.

They argue that Musyoka does not need to be interviewed as his track record speaks for itself, adding that summoning him for an interview amounts to an embarrassment.

"Our position is that the track record of Kalonzo Musyoka of over 30 years in politics as an MP, minister, and vice president and two-time running mate for Raila Odinga should not be questioned and he should not apply to that committee.”

"Political interviews are done publicly and during elections. The qualification of any running mate is the number of votes he is likely to bring to the table. No Kalonzo, no Raila," Maanzo added.

Last week, the Azimio-One Kenya coalition party’s national council, which is chaired by President Kenyatta, appointed a seven-member advisory panel to assist and advise Odinga to pick his running mate. The team is expected to submit the name of the deputy president nominee on or before May 10th.