Azimio coalition teeters towards an implosion
Tower of Babel. This refers to the biblical story found in the Book of Genesis.
In the biblical narrative, after the Great Flood, people—Noah’s descendants spoke a single language and migrated to the land of Shinar (Babylonia). Overly ambitious, they decided to build a tower that would reach the heavens, intending to make a name for themselves and prevent being scattered across the earth.
God, displeased with their pride and ambition, decided to confuse their language so that they could no longer understand each other. This confusion led to the scattering of the people across the earth, and the tower construction was halted. As a result, the place was called Babel, which means “confusion.” In a clear case of wanting to have their cake and it, Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s Orange brigade has been left blowing hot and cold.
Unable to define ODM’s new character after some of its members joined President William Ruto’s government its key members have been lately “speaking in tongues” confused on whether they were part of the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration or still in the Opposition.
Leading onslaught
While Azimio principal Kalonzo Musyoka is leading an onslaught against ODM to vacate the Opposition, senior ODM members yesterday maintained that they had no pact with the Ruto administration, blurring the pillars of oversight that come with their new status.
Yesterday, Raila’s allies came out fighting against a plot to kick them out of the Azimio coalition, forcing Musyoka’s camp to call off a planned meeting to re-organize the opposition outfit.
Aware of a plot by Azimio co-principals Kalonzo, Eugene Wamalwa and Jeremiah Kioni to expel ODM from the coalition, Raila’s allies called a media briefing where they maintained they are in opposition to stay and would not cede leadership positions in the coalition.
The ODM leaders at the same time defended Raila’s role in the formation of a broad-based government saying the move was aimed to steady the nation and that the party has not relinquished its mandate to keep the government in check.
ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga maintained that there is no agreement between ODM and Kenya Kwanza that makes the two joint partners in government and that Ruto picked five of its party members to stabilize the nation ostensibly after Gen Z staged anti-government protests.
Opposition party
“As a party, we wish to express serious misgivings about utterances by some of our partners in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition, who have attempted to question the place of ODM and its commitment to playing its role as an opposition party,” Wanga said.
She went on: “We have no coalition agreement with the Kenya Kwanzaa government as ODM. In response to a national emergency and the need to steady the nation, ODM agreed to release in their individual capacities the members who have been tapped by the president.”
The move forced Kalonzo’s troops to call off a scheduled Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Council during which they planned to kick out Raila’s allies from leadership positions in the National Assembly and the Senate on grounds that ODM had joined the government.
Wamalwa, in a recorded audio, said they had called off the Council meeting following ODM’s “strongly worded” statement earlier in the day.
“This afternoon, we were scheduled to have an Azimio Council meeting chaired by His Excellency Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. And we had all been invited. The meeting was to start at about 4 p.m. this afternoon,” said Wamalwa.
“But prior to the meeting being convened, our colleagues in ODM did convene their own press conference in which they issued a strongly worded statement declaring their position on the Azimio Council. Consequently, the meeting that was to be convened to address coalition issues was overtaken by events and will therefore not be taking place. What that means is that then the parties will be left to make their own decisions as ODM has and may the chips fall where they may,” he added.
The Kalonzo-Wamalwa axis had converged in Embu county on Sunday and declared that they would hold the council meeting to “reorganize to provide the country with a viable official opposition to prevent the country from sliding into a dictatorship.”
Kalonzo, Wamalwa and Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni said each of their parties had held their national executive council meetings and resolved to remain with the people of Kenya who were opposed to the imposition of higher taxes.
As matters stand, the ODM leadership still holds key positions in the opposition outfit, especially in the National Assembly where its members, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has been named the new Minority leader following the appointment of former Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi to the Cabinet. ODM also holds the position of official minority whip in the National Assembly, courtesy of Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo.
Raila too remains the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Party leader and Council member. Those listed as Council members include Kalonzo, Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, NARC leader, Charity Ngilu, DAP-K party leader Wafula Wamunyinyi and Muranga Woman Representative Sabina Chege among others. Junet is listed as the Secretary General of the Executive Council of the coalition party.
Those in the National Coalition Executive Council (NCEC) include new Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya Jubilee Party Vice Chair David Murathe and Azimio Executive Director Raphael Tuju. The Azimio-OK was officially registered as a coalition on April 13, 2022.
In its statement yesterday, ODM criticized the Kalonzo-Wamalwa axis for allegedly questioning Raila’s commitment to hold the government to account with Wanga emphasizing that ODM members did not join the government as representatives of the party, but as individuals whom the president felt have the capacity to add value to his administration and help the country achieve the desired goals.
Political party
“No certain leader or political party should celebrate the collapse of the nation. Consequently, when the president tapped these members, the party responded to the distress call of the nation and released them to serve the people of Kenya,” she said.
Wanga was referring to the appointment of former ODM deputy party leaders Ali Hassan Joho and Oparanya, the former national chairman John Mbadi, the former Secretary for political affairs, Opiyo Wandayi, and former member of the National Elections Coordinating Committee Beatrice Askul who are now serving as Cabinet Secretaries in various ministries.
She accused coalition partners of acting in bad faith to drive the narrative that ODM has officially joined the government so that they can take up positions held by the party in Parliament.
“They’re hiding behind the four gentlemen and one lady who joined the government and are using it to try and wrestle the leadership of the Houses of Parliament from ODM. We find that unacceptable because the House leadership is about numbers in the House and not those in government,” the Governor said.
Wanga added: “The five have been honourable enough to relinquish their party positions instead of clinging to opposition leadership while serving in the government at the same time.”
“The party leader has been forthright enough to explain that the five have joined in their individual capacities to do national duty and not as representatives of party. That is ODM. We act transparently, honourably, and accountably.”
She stated that some Azimio coalition leaders have been hoodwinking Raila with congratulatory messages for his African Union Commission (AUC) bid to divert his attention away from the alliance matters.
Wanga said: “We will not accept the use of Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship to be used to pass ill-intentioned remarks disguised as well wishes and to untwist him on Azimio matters. Raila has earned his candidacy for the AU chairmanship.” On his part, ODM deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi vowed that the party will not bow to any intimidation either within or outside the Azimio la Umoja coalition.