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Azimio-One Kenya and Kenya Kwanza coalitions leaders have retreated to fight for their turfs in an effort to strengthen their bargaining power in case their alliances attain power in the August polls.

 Azimio’s Raila Odinga and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka have put a spirited battle to consolidate their backyards by pushing for six-piece voting at the risk of a fallout amongst candidates for various seats.

 Kenya Kwanza principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula will today pitch a tent in their Vihiga and Bungoma home turfs to rally support for their party candidates for various posts.  

On his part, Raila has indicated he will conduct a week-long campaign in his Nyanza backyard.

 Raila has been tacitly rooting for the election of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidates while Kalonzo has antagonised a section of aspirants in his Ukambani backyard by his strong pitch for Wiper.

In fact, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu on Wednesday pulled out of the gubernatorial race in favour of the Wiper party’s Julius Malombe. 

 The move is said to have been at the instigation of Kalonzo, who has staked claim to the three governorship seats in Ukambani under the Azimio power deal.

Kalonzo has stirred up a storm following his demand that former State House chief of staff and Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU )party leader Nzioka Waita drops out of the Machakos governorship race in favour of Wiper’s Wavinya Ndeti.

In Ukambani, Ngilu has warned that the rivalry between sister parties in Azimio could give their rivals victory in certain seats.

 “Those of us seeking seats under Azimio must talk to each other to ensure we don’t lose some of them to our rivals. We are asking Kalonzo to provide leadership on this by convening a meeting to broker consensus,” said Ngilu.

Irked by the demands of the Wiper leader, the CCU party asked the Azimio-One Kenya Alliance Council to tame Kalonzo from allegedly bullying and disrespecting other parties.

 The Azimio Council comprises party leaders of all 26 founding parties and is chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

 “We are asking the chairman of the Azimio Council to intervene and tame Kalonzo; who just came to Azimio the other day. He should stop belittling us because we are equal partners, irrespective of the size of the party,” said CCU party leader Phillipe Sadja. 

 The party observed it will not withdraw any candidate it has fielded in various elective positions in Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui Counties.

In Makueni, Governor Kivutha Kibwana, Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo (Wiper) and businessman Mbau Malika of Narc Kenya  will be contesting the senate seat.

Notably, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr of Wiper is facing off with ODM’s candidate, business mogul David Masika in the governorship contest.

Huge turnout

ODM Chairman John Mbadi has called on candidates for the various elective seats to accommodate even those vying as Independent to ensure that there is a huge turnout on the Election Day.

Mbadi who has been facing a barrage of criticism from a section of the ODM members clarified that at no point has he called on the electorate not to vote in ODM members.

“Those who got direct tickets and those who participated in the universal suffrage process and won or lost must now work as a team. We are having very disjointed campaigns which should not be the case,” said Mbadi.

Musalia is also facing protests after his calls for six-piece voting in favour of Amani National Congress  (ANC) candidates.

Mudavadi last week asked voters to give him more Members of the County Assembly (MCA), MPs, Woman Rep, governors and senators through ANC if they want “to spare him embarrassment.”

“We must vote ANC candidates because even in Ruto’s Surgoi, they will not vote for an ANC candidate,” said Mudavadi. 

 Ruto is the United Democratic Alliance(UDA) presidential nominee under Kenya Kwanza.

But former Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu who is vying on a UDA ticket has protested Mudavadi’s call.

 “Mudavadi asking the electorate to vote ANC candidates only and reject other in Kenya Kwanza is reckless. He should instead focus on how he will deliver the 70 per cent votes to the Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate.

He should give space to candidates vying on parties including UDA, Ford-Kenya under Kenya Kwanza to compete amongst themselves without interference,” said Chanzu. 

And while campaigning in Mt Elgon, Ford Kenya leader Wetan’gula asked residents to vote for his party candidate instead of local MP Fred Kapondi; who is defending his seat on the UDA ticket.

 Kapondi has declared that UDA candidates were no longer going to do joint campaigns with Ford Kenya.

 “We can’t walk with a team which has no respect to us,” said Kapondi.

 Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi said the move by Ruto to field candidates for various seats in ANC strongholds  could deny him foot soldiers.

 UDA has James Swadi for Vihiga senatorial seat, Jackline Mwenesi for the Vihiga Woman Rep seat, Tom Atingo for  Luanda MP seat, and Clement Shiloya for the Sabatia MP seat to vie against their counterparts in ANC which under Kenya Kwanza Alliance.