Kenyan opposition alliance to challenge incumbent's re-election

An alliance of four mainstream political parties officially formed in Nairobi Wednesday poses a critical challenge to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto's re-election bid during elections due in August, party officials said.

The National Super Alliance (NASA) was officially registered as a political party Thursday after the leaders of the four parties -- Wiper Party Kenya, the Forum for Restoration of Democracy (FORD) Kenya, Amani National Congress (ANC) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) signed its formation.

"This is not a formula for sharing power and dishing out positions. This is the formula for solving the many problems our country is facing. This is our formula for putting honesty at the centre of the management of public affairs," NASA leaders said after signing the coalition pact Wednesday.

The pact was signed by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (ODM), former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper party), former Vice President Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and former foreign minister Moses Wetangula (FORD Kenya) to officially field a single presidential candidate for the Aug. polls.

NASA has created the Summit, the highest organ, which has the party leaders of each of the four parties represented.

It will be the coalition's top decision-making body. The National Coordinating Committee (NCC) will remain another top organ of the party.

The NCC will work toward the rules to oversee the nomination of the coalition's respective candidates for the contestable seats during the August polls.

The other organs are the National Technical Strategy Committee, which is made of 12 experts, which has been working on the rules and party structures.

The Coalition will have its national secretariat and will also create County Coordinating Committees as well as the Coalition Parliamentary Committees, which would decide on matters of management.

"This is our road map for returning hope and happiness to our land. The document we unveil today outlines how we differ from Jubilee -- the ruling Jubilee Party (JP) which currently forms the government," the opposition party leaders stated.

NASA officials unveiled a seven-point action plan, outlining steps toward national reconciliation, justice for atrocities committed by past governments and the rights of women and disadvantaged communities.

They have pledged to enhance the powers of 47 county governments formed in 2013 to undertake more complex responsibilities, including some national security duties.

The new opposition alliance pledged to deal with unemployment, economic rights and the fight against poverty and public sector reforms, aiming to make the central government a servant to its citizens.

"We will restore sanity in the management of our economy and public affairs. To achieve this, we have agreed on a seven-pillar policy platform," the NASA leaders stated in a joint statement.

The new opposition alliance formally replaces the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD).

CORD, made of three parties, ODM, Wiper and Ford Kenya, ran for the 2013 presidential and general elections and lost to president Kenyatta's combined force of The National Alliance (TNA) and the United Republican Party (URP) of Deputy President William Ruto, known as the Jubilee Alliance.

"We are working for the common good of the nation. We are looking for an inclusive government. We undertake to be guided by the principle of good faith," said Musyoka.

The presidential elections in Kenya have been won through political alliances in recent elections. In 2002, opposition leader Mwai Kibaki, emerged winner, riding on the back of a united opposition front.

In the 2013 presidential contest, Kenyatta emerged winner after teaming up with Ruto, who previously worked with Odinga for the 2007 presidential election.

The two differed over the International Criminal Court (ICC) involvement in the trial for suspected planners of the 2007/08 post-election violence.

Analysts say the opposition leaders' political alliance is likely to ring-fence voters from Kenya's Western region, some regions in Eastern and the Coast.

This leaves the vast Rift Valley region and Central Kenya, as the main strongholds for the ruling Jubilee Party, which is still working to consolidate its strongholds. Nairobi County remains the battleground for the two coalitions.

There would be nearly 20 million voters for the Aug. 8 presidential, parliamentary, senatorial and gubernatorial seats in addition to the election of members of 47 County Assemblies.

The opposition leaders say their "refreshed coalition" stands the best chance to create a "political liberation" in Kenya at a time when the country is facing difficult economic challenges as evidenced by many strikes by workers.

The opposition leaders are expected to share executive positions should they win the forthcoming polls. However, the power-sharing formula has not been disclosed officially amongst the four main parties.

The pact formalized by the new coalition was received at the Registrar of Political Parties mandated under the constitution to receive pre-election and post-election coalition agreements between parties.

source: Xinhua