'I will back Kalonzo if he decides to return to Azimio and support Raila,' says Ole Sunkuli

Wiper running mate Andrew Leteipa Ole Sunkuli has remained coy about the possibility of the party leader Kalonzo Musyoka rejoining the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party despite his alleged falling out with former premier Raila Odinga.

Kalonzo left the Odinga-led coalition almost two weeks ago after being snubbed for Azimio’s running mate position, a slot which was eventually handed to NARC Kenya leader Martha Karua.

Despite having picked Ole Sunkuli as the person to deputise his presidential bid at the August polls, a section of Wiper leaders have since urged Kalonzo to rethink his presidency bid and return to the Azimio camp.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s NewsNight show on Tuesday, Sunkuli clarified that the alleged rift between Kalonzo and Raila is purely political and not personal; as such Kenyans cannot completely rule out an alliance between the pair.

“They had a political disagreement over what many assumed was the running mate position but first of all these people are friends. They have a political issue that probably needs to be ironed out but even before he (Kalonzo) left for abroad he warned me and other Wiper leaders against bad mouthing Raila,” he said.

Kalonzo is currently on a week-long tour of the United Kingdom, having left the country on Friday last week.

Sunkuli went on to say that should the Wiper boss find himself in a position where he can only achieve his vision for the county by working with Raila again, then he (Kalonzo) will not hesitate to partner with the Azimio frontman.

“I can’t confirm or deny but I can say that I trust Kalonzo. He speaks from his heart, he means well for the country, and he meant it when he said he was in the race to State House,” said Sunkuli.

"In the same way he asked me to choose between my Narok County Senatorial bid and the country when he announced he wanted me as his running mate, I think even for him when he gets to that junction he will chose the country.”

Sunkuli consequently stated that he will stick behind whatever decision the Wiper boss will make, if any, in terms of rejoining Azimio once he returns from the United Kingdom. 

“If he (Kalonzo) decides to choose the country and work with Odinga, I will do the same to support his decision but that is not where we are at the moment. Right now we are in the race.”