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Kenya: Raila, OKA Team Back in Mombasa for Talks With President Kenyatta

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4 years ago

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President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to meet ODM leader Raila Odinga and the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) brigade in Mombasa today (Wednesday) for more talks.

The meetings are part of Mr Kenyatta’s efforts to unite them and have them back one Presidential candidate in next year’s election.

This comes as Deputy President William Ruto criticised the team for struggling to unite and face him yet they have no plans for the country.

“They are trying to find means of stopping a defeat. But they don’t understand that Kenyans are looking for who has an agenda and plan for jobless and how to improve the businesses and change lives,” he said.

“That’s what Kenyans are looking for and you cannot find the formula to win unless you have the agenda and programme for the people of Kenya to buy.

“You cannot say you want to meet so that Ruto doesn’t beat you, how can I not beat you yet you don’t have a plan which Kenyans are seeking which we have?”

He said the only means the opposition brigade has is to find a better plan, not just to seek unity against him.

Dr Ruto was addressing leaders from Tharaka Nithi County at his Karen residence on Tuesday, moments before Mr Odinga and the OKA team left for Mombasa for today’s meeting.

OKA brings together Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) and Gideon Moi (Kanu).

Interviews with various party officials from Jubilee, ODM, ANC and Ford Kenya confirmed that the leaders will meet the President at State House Mombasa on Wednesday for a follow up meeting of last week’s, in which President Kenyatta reportedly asked then to back Mr Odinga.

“Yes, the leaders are back in Mombasa. The meeting was scheduled,” Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju told Nation.Africa.

His ODM counterpart, Edwin Sifuna, also confirmed the meeting but did not give details.

ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohammed said: “Yes the meeting is on today. I think its about the same issues discussed previously.”

Ford Kenya Organising Secretary, Chris Mandu, also confirmed today’s meeting in Mombasa by the OKA team but insisted it was their own and not with the Head of State.

“Yes our principals went to Mombasa but for their own scheduled meeting,” said Mr Mandu.

On Tuesday, Jubilee Party’s National Management Committee (NMC) meeting with the party’s parliamentary leadership endorsed plans for a coalition with ODM and asked its secretariat to formalise the deal.

This happened as Mr Odinga launched his bid in Nakuru as OKA leaders also vowed to back one of their own for President in next year’s election.