05/01/2022
ONE KENYA ALLIANCE - PRESS RELEASE
5th January 2022, NAIROBI
The One Kenya Alliance (OKA) takes this opportunity to wish all Kenyans a Happy and Prosperous 2022. We salute all our compatriots for their strength, tenacity and resilience in the face of the tough times experienced in the year 2021 as a result of the continuing adverse effects of the COVID pandemic. We appeal to our brothers and sisters who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. Similarly we urge the public to continue observing the prescribed safety and health protocols. Together we will overcome.
Secondly, we wish to assure our supporters and all Kenyans that the One Kenya Alliance is intact and remains focused on offering the country a leadership that is Just, Inclusive, Responsive to the citizens’ needs and bound by the rule of law. The Alliance continues to grow and attract key political stakeholders including but not limited to the Mount Kenya Unity Forum. More political parties are on the way.
As the clock ticks towards the August 2022 General Elections, the Country is witnessing heightened political activities. Consequently the One Kenya Alliance would like to make the following remarks:
1. Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021: The One Kenya Alliance supports the strengthening of Coalitions hence supports the legislation of Coalition Parties. However, we caution against any attempt to introduce over-reaching regulatory powers over political parties. We call upon Members of Parliament to exercise sobriety and restraint in the ongoing debate, and urge them to shun any short term partisan and parochial interests and consider the interests of the Kenyan people first. We must all endeavor to put in place an electoral process and system that is fair, just, verifiable and transparent.
2. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission: The One Kenya Alliance calls upon the government to empower the IEBC fully and within the stipulated time as it prepares to roll out the second voter registration exercise. It is imperative that IEBC prepares a comprehensive voters roll in good time for verification by the relevant stakeholders. At the same time, OKA urges the government to drop any plans to make it mandatory for IEBC to develop the voter register from the National Integrated Identity Management System popularly known as the HUDUMA NUMBER. Given the sensitivity and delicate nature of our elections, this action is likely to be (mis)interpreted as mischief and further dent public trust.
3. Security of Life and Property: As earlier observed, the Country has seen heightening of political tensions with some quarters beating unwelcome drums of war. The One Kenya Alliance has consistently warned against holding our elections under a cloud of fear and intimidation. We therefore call upon the government to ensure that adequate security is provided for all Kenyans, to freely exercise their freedom of association, assembly and expression of their ideas.
4. Media Publicity and Coverage: We call upon the media fraternity to provide all candidates with equal, fair and unbiased coverage. It is regrettable that certain sections of the media have been transformed into appendages and campaign agents for some candidates. Given the important role that the media plays in agenda setting and influencing public opinion and choice, we urge the media to exercise this privileged role fairly, ethically, morally and responsibly.
In Conclusion, we wish to re-assure the public that OKA is united, strong and focused on its political mission. The process to identify our flagbearer is at an advanced stage. In this regard, the OKA Principals will retreat from the 18th of February 2022 to consider recommendations from the Technical Team, which is currently working on a comprehensive report. Whoever the Flagbearer is, he or she will carry the aspirations of the millions of Kenyans that have entrusted their destiny to the One Kenya Alliance.
Once again we wish our fellow Citizens a Peaceful, Healthy and Prosperous 2022.
God Bless OKA. God Bless Kenya.
Signed
Hon. Gideon Moi, (Party Leader, KANU), Hon. Moses Masika Wetang’ula, (Party Leader, Ford-K),
Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, (Party Leader, ANC), Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka, (Party Leader, Wiper)
Hon. Cyrus Jirongo, (Party leader, UD
