Joho, Munya join race for Raila running mate

On Tuesday, Wiper vice chairman Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and Makueni MP Dan Maanzo accused Uhuru and Raila of betrayal.

“We agreed to support Raila on the basis that Kalonzo would  be the running mate. Some people within ODM have been trying to frustrate that. There is no other reason we would have agreed [to join Azimio],” Maanzo told the Star.

“Now it is no Kalonzo, no Raila.”

The Wiper leaders insist Raila and the President were reneging on a deal they inked that makes Kalonzo the automatic Azimio second-in-command.

Addressing the press after the council meeting in Nairobi, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed announced the formation of an advisory panel that will recommend suitable running mates. Junet is secretary general of the Azimio Coalition Party.

Raila and  allies, including Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua, are set to fly to the US on Friday for a week-long trip.

The IEBC has insisted political parties must name their running mates by Thursday, April 28.

IEBC sources told the Star the commission held a plenary on Wednesday and upheld the deadline.

The same timelines that are now being challenged by political parties applied in 2017 and parties complied with them.

It has emerged, however, the timelines could have thrown many political formations, including Kenya Kwanza, into a tailspin.

Despite publicly insisting they are ready to name a running mate, sources said the Ruto team had also petitioned the IEBC on the timelines

The other party said to have raised concerns is Safina.

Sources who attended the Azimio Council meeting at KICC intimated to the Star that members of the advisory panel will be drawn from the anchor parties.

The timelines of their assignment remain unclear.

The panel will be submitting their list of possible nominees to the presidential candidate who will then pick one person to pair with.

“We have not constituted the panel, the names will be out soon,” a source who attended the meeting told the Star in confidence.

Some of the big names being touted as Raila’s possible running mate include Kalonzo, Karua, Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth and Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya.

Equity Group chief executive officer James Mwangi’s name also pops up as a possible pick for Raila.

The KICC meeting attended by both Raila and Kalonzo also tasked the National Coalition Executive Committee to immediately recommend to the council names of four party organs that will be responsible for steering the Azimio ship.

They include the Coalition Elections Board, Coalition Elections Appeals Board, National Disciplinary Committee and the Dispute Resolution Panel.