National Super Alliance

The National Super Alliance, known by the abbreviation NASA, is a Kenyan political coalition of opposition center-left parties that was formed in January 2017. These parties include the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Wiper Democratic Movement (Wiper), Forum for the Restoration of Democracy - Kenya (FORD-Kenya), Amani National Congress (ANC),[1][2] National Rainbow Coalition, Progressive Party of Kenya, Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU), and the Muungano Party (MP).

National Super Alliance
LeaderRaila Amolo Odinga
General SecretaryNorman Magaya
Deputy LeaderStephen Kalonzo Musyoka
PrincipalWycliffe Musalia Mudavadi
PrincipalMoses Wetangula
Founded11 January 2017
IdeologySocial democracy
Social liberalism
Progressivism
Political positionCentre to centre-left
Colours    
Coalition PartnersODM
WDM
FORD-Kenya
Amani National Congress
Chama Cha Uzalendo
National Assembly
126 / 349
Senate
28 / 67
Governors
18 / 47

Raila Amolo Odinga, Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula and Isaac Ruto are the co-principals of the coalition.[3]

The coalition was created to oppose President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy-President William Samoei Ruto in the 2017 general elections.[4]

Candidates

The NASA Coalition's presidential candidate for the 2017 general election was Raila Amolo Odinga, and the candidate for deputy-president was Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka.[5][6]

Odinga and Musyoka ran under the National Super Alliance. Thus, their political parties (the Orange Democratic Movement and the Wiper Democratic Movement) opted to field their own candidates for other political positions.[7] The other political parties in the coalition also fielded candidates for various electoral positions. Thus, "NASA candidates" did not technically exist.

Of all the principals, only Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi did not run for electoral office. He instead ran the NASA National Campaign Committee. Raila Amolo Odinga and Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka ran for president and deputy president, Moses Wetangula for Bungoma County senator, and Isaac Ruto for Bomet County for governor.[8]

Manifesto

The NASA Coalition launched a six-point manifesto prior to the 2017 elections that focuses on

  • Food security
  • 'Progressive values' (democracy, affirmative action, freedom of the media, transparency, rule of law, and public participation)
  • Dealing with cartels
  • Kenya's debt burden
  • Job creation
  • Healthcare
  • Affordable education

The manifesto borrowed heavily from that by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, for which Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka were also the candidates for president and deputy president for the 2013 general election.[9]

References

  1. Ngetich, Jacob. "Amani National Congress meets to map coalition". The Standard. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  2. "Jubilee fears NVP, Kanu, Mashinani party could deny DP Ruto control of Rift Valley ahead of 2017 polls". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  3. Ngetich, Jacob. "Super alliance will be ready by December to send Uhuru home, Opposition leaders vow". The Standard. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  4. Ndungu, Tonny. "Raila goes for Uhuru's jugular by forming a super alliance of six parties- details". Tuko.co.ke — Kenya news. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  5. KTN News Kenya (2017-02-22), National Super Alliance NASA Flagbearer found, retrieved 2017-04-27
  6. "[VIDEO] Raila named NASA flag bearer, Kalonzo deputy in August poll line up". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  7. Sanga, Benard. "Wiper to field candidates against ODM for all Coast seats, says Senator Omar". The Standard. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  8. Onyango, Protus. "Musalia Mudavadi confirmed as NASA campaign supremo". The Standard. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  9. "Nasa launches six-point manifesto". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
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