As political realignments continue to take place in the country and political parties instilling discipline and loyalty among the members, the Wiper Democratic Movement led by former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Chama Cha Mashinani led by former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto have signed a post-election agreement of cooperation with the ruling Jubilee coalition, leaving the NASA coalition, that was the main opposition wing, on the verge of collapsing. Kalonzo Musyoka and Isaac Ruto led their troops including chairmen and secretary generals to sign the agreement at the Jubilee headquarters declaring their intention to work and support President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ruling Jubilee as he works on uniting the country as he is slated to exit power in 2022 after completing his ten years at the helm of leadership in the country. The agreements were signed by Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju with Wiper secretary general Judith Sijeny and chairman Chirau Ali Mwakwere witnessed by Kalonzo Musyoka and other leaders including Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior while on the part of Chama Cha Mashinani, the agreement was signed by party secretary general Zedekiah Bundotich a.k.a Buzeki and witnessed by party leader Isaac Ruto and other party leaders.
Speaking after the signing session, Jubilee SG Tuju said that the move was aimed at strengthening President Kenyatta’s dream to unite the country hence each party that comes on board has to play their role towards achieving the same. “It is the dream and intention of President Uhuru Kenyatta to bring this country together, and by bringing this country together it does not mean some people but it means all the people of Kenya together and it is therefore very significant that we have this cooperation agreement with Wiper and Chama cha Mashinani,” said Tuju. Tuju said the agreement is a very important step that the parties have taken after lengthy and detailed discussions and planning which reveals that a lot of issues have been agreed upon before reaching such a stage.
On his part the Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe said that the cooperation agreement means the two parties are going to cooperate with the Jubilee coalition in and out of parliament and hoped that they will at a later date sign a coalition agreement noting that at the moment the two parties are still members of the NASA coalition. Kalonzo Musyoka insisted that despite the cooperation agreement, the Wiper party is still a member of the NASA coalition but added that his party is determined to work with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party and will soon initiate a move to have Wiper leave NASA immediately the Covid-19 pandemic is conquered in the country. “We shall cooperate fully in terms of this agreement to enhance Jubilee’s program in both houses of parliament in the national assembly and the senate but remember that Wiper remains a member of the NASA coalition because you cannot be in two coalitions at one time,” Kalonzo noted.
Isaac Ruto noted that the agreement does not mean that the parties have abandoned their ideals and manifesto to Kenyans but will still champion for the same while working with the ruling coalition. He further noted that the move will enable the country to begin a new chapter where there is going to be the period in the history of this country where there shall be no wrangles and fights after every election process but have a peaceful period of development between just concluded election and the next election. “We want a situation where election winners and losers will come together after the polls and uphold peace.”
The signing of the cooperation agreement between Jubilee and the two parties now leaves ANC of Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula’s Ford Kenya as the only two parties in the NASA opposition coalition out of the five that have not decided their next steps under the new political dispensation after Raila Odinga’s ODM agreed to work with and support President Kenyatta’s government after the March 9th 2018 handshake. Mudavadi and Wetangula are yet to decide whether to remain as opposition outfits, join Jubilee or join Deputy President William Ruto’s Tanga Tanga wing that has been relegated to an opposition wing in the Jubilee coalition as they are opposed to most moves by President Kenyatta, including embracing opposition stalwarts in the ruling coalition.