‘Nilikuwa tayari, lakini tuangalie umri': Kalonzo defends move to back Raila again

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka now says he considered the age factor between him and ODM leader Raila Odinga before deciding to put aside his own presidential ambitions and suppot the former premier.

Kalonzo, 68, was speaking at the Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi on Saturday shortly after putting his weight behind Odinga, 77, under the Azimio La Umoja movement.

“Kusema kweli, mimi nilikuwa tayari kabisa, na nadhani bado niko tayari. Lakini tunaangalia umri,” he stated.

The former Vice President stated that he and Odinga had come a long way in the political stage and that the ODM chief is the sure candidate to clinch presidency in the August polls due to the strong team behind him.

“Leo tumefanya a grand coalition kwa jina Azimio-One Kenya…tuko na three important pillars; pillar ya Jubilee, pillar ya OKA, na pillar ya ODM,” Kalonzo said.

“Ndugu Raila tumetoka mbali, tumekula teargas. Tulianza LDP, alafu ODM Kenya, NARC, CORD hadi NASA… Kwa roho safi, Raila Amolo Odinga tosha!”

Kalonzo further pledged that his focus from now on will be on popularizing Odinga’s bid across the country.

“Kuenda na mbele itakuwa hiari ya Raila Odinga, mimi nitamtafutia kura Kenya nzima,” he said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated Kalonzo on backing Odinga, terming his move as a heroic act of selflessness.

“Wengi wameweka kando tamaa ama ambitions zao kwa sababu wanataka kuona Kenya ikishikana, mmoja wao akiwa ndugu yangu Kalonzo Musyoka,” said President Kenyatta.

“Ameweka tamaa yake chini kwa kulilia taifa la Kenya…nataka tusimamame tumpigie makofi kwa sababu ya ushujaa wake. Tunamshukuru na tunamwambia asante sana.”

Saturday’s NDC saw over 20 affiliate parties in attendance sign a coalition agreement to officially declare their alliance to the Azimio la Umoja outfit.