Cord top leadership in South Africa

CORD Coalition Principals Raila Odinga (Centre) Kalonzo Musyoka (left) and Moses Wetangula when they launched their manifesto at Kenyatta International Conference Centre on January 28, 2013. The trio are currently in South Africa.

 NATION

By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com

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• On Sunday, a source who accompanied the Cord leaders in South Africa said they were not keen on attending the inauguration ceremony.

The entire Coalition for Reforms and Democracy top brass is in South Africa for a rest after the tumultuous March 4 General Election and to agree on future plans.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula left for South Africa on Saturday.

It was not clear whether the Cord principals will be back in Nairobi for President elect Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration on Tuesday.

The three are among those invited to the ceremony at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, but their attendance hangs in the balance.

On Saturday, the PM’s spokesman Dennis Onyango confirmed that Mr Odinga is not in the country.

Asked if the PM will be attending Mr Kenyatta’s inauguration ceremony, Mr Onyango said: “I don’t think so as he is out of the country. I doubt if he will be back by then.”
Mr Onyango said the PM was in Johannesburg for a rest and to visit former President Nelson Mandela’s family.

On Sunday, a source who accompanied the Cord leaders in South Africa said they were not keen on attending the inauguration ceremony.

“What they want is to have a rest, reflect and plan on their options for the future,” the source who asked not to be named as he has no mandate to speak on the leaders plans said.

The source said Mr Odinga, Mr Musyoka and Mr Wetangula were taking stock of the March 4 polls and that they were strategizing on how to stick together and provide alternative leadership to the country.

“They want to provide alternative leadership to the Kenyatta administration in and outside Parliament,” the source said.

He said the Cord leaders’ main plan is to anchor the alliance’s watchdog role on fidelity to the constitution and implementation of devolution and Vision 2030.

He said the Cord principals were keen on transforming the alliance into a formidable movement like Tanzania’s CCM and South Africa’s ANC.

The inauguration ceremony at Kasarani is expected to provide some level of closure after a bitterly contested campaign.

The Jubilee team of Mr Kenyatta and deputy President-elect William Ruto defeated the Cord team led by Mr Odinga and running mate Musyoka by garnering 50.07 percent against Cord’s 43 percent of the votes.

Mr Odinga disputed the results released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and took his case to the Supreme Court.

The court however issued a decision indicating that the electoral process was broadly credible.