A sharp split within NASA is threatening to tear up the coalition whose unity has closely been on the watch from rival political players.
There are divisions simmering among the affiliate parties inspired by the quest to take up leadership positions in the House.
They have accused the Raila Odinga led ODM party of “bullying” them and gobbling up prestigious House leadership positions and making unilateral decisions without consulting.
Leader of Minority John Mbadi (ODM) and Minority Whip Junet Mohammed (ODM)-both close to Raila have come under sharp criticism from Ford Kenya led by Co-principal Moses Wetangula.
Ford Kenya Secretary-General Dr Eseli Simiyu accused the two are destroying the coalition.
“ODM is failing to consult, especially in the National Assembly where if the Minority leader and the Minority whip are going to leave on their own, they are going to break up the coalition,” said Simiyu as quoted by the Star.
He added: “If they feel the rest of us are a nuisance, then they should tell us now, then we know what to do next. There isn’t enough consultation, perhaps ODM doesn’t value the partners.”
Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC too had a say on the matter.
Through its Secretary-General Barrack Muluka, the party felt that ODM was by a big extent micromanaging other affiliate parties.
He said this will not continue given that NASA was borne by Mudavadi. “A coalition is not about one party taking everything and others are supposed to escort them, to clap and to do public relations talks.”
But Mbadi who Suba South’s MP said: “I should not be unfairly blamed [for] the way ANC brought forward their names for committees. That is the way we passed the list and the way Ford Kenya brought it forward is the way we passed the list. Therefore, to blame me is either a complete lack of knowledge or mischief.”
And as the internal wrangles turned vile, Muluka said that ANC was not part of the much hyped Raila “swearing-in” plan.
He revealed the agenda was being driven by a “cartel” within ODM.
“Kenyans must know that when the declaration was made that Raila would be sworn in on December 12, there had been no consultation and we don’t need to be hypocritical about it.”
But even as the affiliate NASA party objects to the swearing in plan, the US has once again spoken against it.
On Tuesday, acting assistant secretary of state for African affairs Donald Yamamoto in a teleconference with journalist said in response to the issue that “Forming a separate or parallel government is really unhelpful.”
Wiper led by Kalonzo Musyoka wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi complaining of being short-changed.
The party demanded one slot in the powerful Parliamentary Service Commission based on its strength as a parliamentary political party under Standing Orders.