Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o / FILE
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has challenged Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to seek dialogue with President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
This follows the signing of a pact between the two former foes-turned-allies that will see the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) work together.
Kalonzo criticised the UDA-ODM pact saying Ruto and Raila betrayed Kenyans.
But in a statement on Sunday, Nyongo' said the deal was for the good of the country.
“There is therefore still room for Kalonzo Musyoka to seek to dialogue with our two leaders to work for the future of our nation.”
The county boss said since Kalonzo's discontentment is that Azimio was left out of the deal, the most prudent thing to do would be to seek ways of being part of the team instead of saying Raila betrayed Azimio.
“In the meantime, the same Kalonzo has been meeting with all kinds of characters, including Rigathi Gachagua, without consulting us at all. But we never complained. We took it as his democratic right to do so,” Nyongó said.
The governor said the MoU commits the partners to build a much stronger democratic political culture in which all parties and movements, notwithstanding their base of support, will build the Kenyan nation together.
On Sunday, ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga told off Kalonzo for saying Raila betrayed Kenyans by signing the deal with Ruto.
Wanga, who is also the governor for Homa Bay county, said Raila’s move was in the best interest of the country.
She said it was absurd for anyone to term the deal between the two leaders as betrayal.
“Let us support Baba and Ruto in their efforts to unite the country. We should not leave anyone behind,” she urged.
Wanga called on Kenyans to rally behind efforts by the two leaders to move the country forward.
“Baba (Raila) did not enter into the deal to personally benefit from it. President Ruto equally did not decide to work with Baba to gain anything. That deal was for all Kenyans and not the two,” she explained.
Kalonzo said Raila had betrayed the cause of the Kenyan people who died in 2023 and 2024 as they protested the high cost of living, punitive taxes, and governance problems.
"If there is no formula at KICC showing how Kenyans are going to compensate their families and the loss of lives because of police brutality, then nothing will come out of KICC other than betrayal of the Kenyan people," he said.
