Lawmakers dismiss Nasa and cast doubts on its survival

By KAZUNGU SAMUEL

THURSDAY JANUARY 12 2017

From left: Opposition leaders Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila Odinga, Moses Wetang'ula and Nick Salat in a show of unity during the unveiling of Nasa at Bomas of Kenya on January 11, 2017. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP. 

In Summary

• They claim the National Supper Alliance (Nasa) was formed on shaky grounds and it will fall moment after its flag bearer is named.
• Kilifi South MP Mustapha Iddi, his Ganze counterpart Peter Shehe and Mombasa Nominated Senator Emma Mbura on Thursday said the launch was a public relations exercise with nothing to deliver to Kenyans.
• There is nothing new Kenyans should expect from the coalition formed by, among others, Raila Odinga (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford-Kenya) and Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), 
• Mr Iddi said.

Jubilee leaders and supporters in Kilifi have dismissed and cast doubts on the survival of the new alliance opposition leaders have formed in their bid to dethrone President Uhuru Kenyatta.

They claim the National Supper Alliance (Nasa) was formed on shaky grounds and it will fall apart moments after its flag-bearer is named.

Kilifi South MP Mustapha Iddi, his Ganze counterpart Peter Shehe and Mombasa nominated Senator Emma Mbura on Thursday said the launch was a public relations exercise with nothing to deliver to Kenyans.

There is nothing new Kenyans should expect from the coalition formed by, among others, Raila Odinga (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford-Kenya) and Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Mr Iddi said.

FAILED TEST

“The naked truth is that those fronting the union had served this country and failed to raise the standards of Kanyans' lives," he said.

The Kilifi South lawmaker said Mr Odinga served as prime minister in the Mwai Kibaki regime and during his time, a scandal rocked the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme, leading to loss of public funds.

Mr Mudavadi and Mr Musyoka, he claimed, served as vice-presidents but did nothing to improve the lives of Kenyans.

“Moses Wetangula served as a powerful Foreign Affairs minister but there is absolutely nothing Kenyans can see from his tenure,” he added.

Failure by Nasa to name its flag-bearer, he claimed, was a clear indication that they would not hold together for long.

EARLY FALLOUT

“The truth is that they failed because they feared for early fallout. The same will happen after they name their flag-bearer,” he said.

Mr Shehe has said the launch will not deter Jubilee from winning the August General Election.

“We as Jubilee are currently busy serving Kenyans. That is our core mandate and Kenyans will look for a development-oriented leader while voting. Their colourful Nasa launch has nothing to do with development of the country,” he said.

Ms Mbura has said the union was bound to fail because it was formed out of greed for power.

“I was just looking at their body language during the launch and the message was very clear that they will not go anywhere since everyone wants to be at the top,” said Ms Mbura, who has declared her interest in the Rabai parliamentary seat on a Jubilee ticket.

DID NOTHING

The leaders, she said, were the same ones who served in different capacities in previous governments but did nothing for Kenya.

“Many people would want a working government like Jubilee, which has worked hard to realize development for the region, but not a rhetoric union,” she said.

Kilifi County Jubilee youth leader Allan Karisa reiterated that Nasa is not a threat to Jubilee in any way.

Kilifi resident George Komba said the launch of Nasa would cause a lot of confusion in party nominations, especially at the grassroots, and that will work in Jubilee's favour.

“I can foresee confusion during nominations and again it will be a big task to bring together several aspirants to form the Nasa unity at grassroots. That will be a plus for Jubilee, which will easily nominate a candidate,” he said.