Will Raila’s Shoes Too Big for Kalonzo to Fill?, Depths Analysis

Efforts to revive the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) are becoming evident following a meeting called by the Kanu party Chairman, Gideon Moi, on Wednesday, a move that could be a setback for the One Kenya Resolution coalition.

OKA is part of the Resolution under the leadership of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, who has declared his intention to run for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC).

This development comes amid concerns that Odinga’s ambition may leave a leadership vacuum, which opposition leaders are vying to fill.

Initially, OKA brought together Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Gideon Moi, Moses Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya, and Musalia Mudavadi, who was then the leader of Amani National Congress (ANC), to oppose Odinga’s presidential bid in 2022.

The revival of the OKA coalition reflects the dynamics leading up to the 2022 elections, which were designed to isolate Odinga and force him to support another presidential candidate.

On Wednesday, Moi welcomed Musyoka, his counterpart from the Democratic Action Party – Kenya (DAP-K) Eugene Wamalwa, and the leader of the Equality For All party, Mwangi wa Iria, to his home in Kabarak, Nakuru County.

The three spent the night in Nakuru before holding a procession in the town on Thursday.

It has been revealed that the Kabarak meeting was preceded by another meeting between Musyoka and Moi at the Wiper leader’s SKM Center office in Nairobi, where they reportedly discussed the 2027 elections.

Moi has not been attending political events following the defeat of the Resolution and Kenya First in the 2022 general elections.

Musyoka and Wamalwa have announced their plans to run for the presidency in the upcoming elections and have since initiated joint efforts to campaign together, with analysts revealing plans for the two to run as a presidential duo, with Wamalwa as Musyoka’s running mate.

The trio attended the International Investment Conference in Homa Bay County on Wednesday, where Musyoka openly stated his readiness to lead the Resolution if Odinga succeeds in his AUC bid.

Musyoka assured Resolution supporters that there would be no leadership vacuum in the coalition if their leader, Odinga, is elected as the AUC chairman.

Musyoka, eyeing the presidential seat in 2027, stated that he would fill Odinga’s position to ensure the opposition remains strong.

“Some people are already starting to feel like orphans because they will miss Raila (Odinga) in Nyanza politics and at the national level. I want to assure people like my brother (Wycliffe) Oparanya that if you miss Baba, Uncle Stevo is here,” Musyoka told attendees at the Homa Bay Investment Conference.

These developments come as Odinga’s dream of becoming the AUC chairman continues to evoke mixed feelings, especially within the ODM party.

However, Kalonzo, the former Vice President, assured Odinga’s supporters that he would continue leading the opposition effectively if given the opportunity.

“I think I have assured you that there will be no vacuum in the leadership of the Resolution, and you shouldn’t be afraid,” Wiper leader Kalonzo stated.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, a close associate of Musyoka, told Taifa Leo that the former Vice President was using all means to gain the support of other coalition leaders in his bid for the 2027 presidency.

He said Musyoka had been organizing joint meetings with some leaders, including a Sunday meeting where he would join Wamalwa, Iria, and former Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya in Embu.

“Kanu, led by Gideon, is a subsidiary of the Resolution. Therefore, it is an ally. Our party leader and his partners spent the night in Nakuru, and today we held two meetings there,” said Wambua.

He added, “We will not wait to be endorsed by anyone. The only approval we expect is from God and the people. People have been telling us they want to see Kalonzo touring the entire country; that’s what we’ve started doing.”

Additionally, Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu said some of their coalition partners, especially ODM, had mistreated Musyoka after some of Odinga’s associates issued conditions before the party supported Musyoka.

“Our party leader has been faithful and patient with the Resolution, and anyone giving us conditions is not fair. We are in a time where we don’t care who wants to support us or not because Kalonzo must be in the race,” said Mulu.

As Odinga plans to step back from active politics in line with the AU chair position, some leaders within the Resolution have started positioning themselves to inherit the leadership of the coalition.

Among them are ODM Deputy Leaders, former governors Ali Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Oparanya (Kakamega).

However, Musyoka urged Odinga to prioritize the AU campaign over opposition politics.

“Now Raila (Odinga) needs Ruto’s votes, and he cannot say, ‘Zacchaeus, come