NASA’s technical committee is today reporting to have settled on the party’s flag bearer in the upcoming general elections. The team said they agreed to front ODM leader Raila Odinga as NASA’s flag bearer, with Kalonza as his running mate.
However, the official report will come when the four principles, Raila, Kalonzo, Mudavadi and Wetangula agree on the matter by consensus. They are expected to come together today after meeting with IEBC officials.
The country may see a 2013 rematch in case the four principles honor the technical committee’s choice of candidate.
“We are now done. We sat until 12 am on Tuesday. But we are happy about our report,” said a member of the committee on condition of anonymity.
The 12-member committee includes former Mumias Sugar Company chairman Dan Ameyo, former member of Constitution of Kenya Review Commission Abubakar Zein, Dr. David Ndii, Nairobi University professor Dr Adams Oloo, Kabarak University law professor Elisha Ongoya among others.
A source close to Mudavadi, however, claimed they have not seen any report. “We have not seen any report and it will be premature for anyone to make that announcement,” said the source
It is expected that the party will endorse the flag bearer in a historic rally at Uhuru Park grounds, on the weekend of April 15-16, where they will sign the long-awaited agreement.
Sections of the report propose the creation of a new position of a chief minister, a position similar to that of a prime minister. The chief minister will be a first among equals in the NASA Cabinet.
The Chief Minister position, which will be occupied by Mudavadi, will be mandated to supervise and manage government affairs. It will also have enough powers to whip the cabinet.