By Anderson Ojwang
Last Friday former President Uhuru Kenyatta presided over the
final laying of the nail to the Azimio la Umoja coalition that buried
the Raila Odinga presidential vehicle in the 2022 contest.
Subsequently, it left Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc-Kenya
of Martha Karua and the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAPK)
Eugene Wamalwa in the political cold, which now forces them to
cobble up a new coalition ahead of the 2027 Presidential contest.
Mid this year, Narc Kenya formally gave notice to exit from the
Azimio La Umoja Coalition One Kenya Coalition.
The decision was communicated in a letter addressed to the
coalition secretary-general Junet Mohammed by Narc Kenya
acting secretary general Asha Bashir.
“Kindly take note that our stay in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya
coalition is not tenable due to the prevailing political
developments,” she said.
“As NARC Kenya by way of this letter, we are giving notice to exit
the Coalition as stipulated in the exit clause (s) in the Coalition
agreement. This notice is effective from the date of this letter,”
she added.
Karua in a tweet on X said, “Our stay in Azimio La Umoja One
Kenya Alliance is no longer tenable”.
The appointments by President Ruto of Uhuru’s key allies was the final straw that broke the coalition. The coalition was cobbled by Uhuru as a vehicle for Raila to State Houseand with the new political developments, Azimio La Umoja is now obsolete.
President Ruto first punctured the coalition when after a political
handshake with Raila who subsequently agreed to the
formation of a broad-based government.
President Ruto also declared his government would be supporting
Raila’s candidature for the chair African Union seat whose election
is scheduled for February next year.
Raila, the immediate former Orange Democratic Movement
(ODM) party leader then announced that he had quit the local
politic for the continental scene and left the party leadership to
Kisumu Governor Prof Peter Anyang Nyong’o.
This move shook the Azimio coalition to shell with Kalonzo
declaring that he had assumed the opposition leadership and that
of Azimio la Umoja. But recently, it was reported by the Star
Newspaper where it was claimed Kalonzo saying he has no role
in Azimio.
But recently, while at a function in Kitale, Kalonzo and Wamalwa
hinted at the possibility of ditching the coalition for a new outfit.
They said the new political outfit would offer Kenyans alternative
leadership and that they were still consulting widely.
“A good idea always gives way to a better idea. What we are
thinking about is a better idea. We are looking ahead and we are
very consultative,” Kalonzo said.
Wamalwa said the new political vehicle could be ready as early as
next year.
“We are just a few days to the New Year and there are new things
that are coming and I believe there will be a new coalition and a
new government. I believe that this is the team that will save
Kenya from Corruption” Wamalwa said.
On Thursday, December 19th President Ruto brought into his
government Uhuru key allies including the Head of Azinio
Presidential secretariat and former Laikipia Governor Murithi
Nderitu and the next day, Ruto made another strategic move by
appointing Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria as the
Chairperson of the Public Procurement Regulatory Board.
Mwangi wa Iria is the party leader of Usawa kwa Wote and was
among the political parties in the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
Former Gatanga MP and Presidential candidate Peter Kenneth
has also been appointed as the Chairperson of the Kenya Bureau
of Standards (KEBS) National Standards Council. Kenneth has
been the sponsor of the Kenya National Congress party and he was
one of the key allies of Raila in Mt Kenya in the last general
election.
President Ruto also appointed Raila’s top advisors Professor
Adams G.R. Oloo will henceforth serve as an advisor for strategy
and communication and Dr Silvester Okumu Kasuku as a
governance Advisor.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently hinted at a
possible alliance with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo ahead of the
2027 General Election.
When he spoke during a funeral service in Mbooni, Makueni
County on Wednesday, December 19, Rigathi praised Kalonzo,
particularly for working with the late former President Mwai Kibaki.
As such, Gachagua noted that the Mount Kenya region owed
Kalonzo and they will pay back when the right time comes.
“We are very grateful, and we won’t forget those people from the
Wiper Party, led by Kalonzo Musyoka,that have built a friendship
that will last forever. We also won’t bother how Kalonzo helped
Kibaki in 2007, the coalition between Kalonzo and Kibaki led to
economic development that we had not seen since
independence. We forgot to pay that ‘debt’ but we will pay that
‘debt’,” he said.
Gachagua also acknowledged the support from Members of
Parliament from the Kamba community who stood with him during
and after his impeachment process.
“We are very grateful to the Kamba community; we are grateful to
Kalonzo, the Wiper Party, and the Members of Parliament. You
have shown us true friendship at a time when we are being
embarrassed by those whom we helped. We did not help you, we
helped others but they have betrayed us. However, at this time
when we are suffering, you have come to our rescue,” he said.
ODM Director of Election Junet Mohammed who spoke in Migori
said those who had been critical of ODM working with
President Ruto have now joined the broad-based government.
“People are looking for employment. You have seen those who
were critical of ODM have joined the government. We are happy with President Ruto broadening the broad-based government. We congratulate President Ruto for fostering unity in the country,” he said
Nairobi-based advocate Lumumba Ouya said the Azimio Coalition
is dead following the recent and past political monoverse that had
rocked the coalition and left it a shell.
He said at the moment the top leadership in the coalition have
been orphaned after Uhuru and Ruto recently met, which has
culminated in the key appointments.
“Uhuru and Raila were the key architects of the Azimio coalition.
The moment they had a handshake with President Ruto, the
coalition became deadwood and that is why Rigathi is coming in
as another key player and this will result in a new coalition,” he
argued.
But Ouya claimed Uhuru could be playing some games arguing
that Jeremiah Kioni and Wamalwa are his close confidants who
have remained with the Kalonzo group and have been critical of the
government.
