Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition Principal Martha Karua believes the coalition is treading on shaky ground following the latest move by President William Ruto to nominate key Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members to his cabinet.
Karua who was Raila Odinga’s running mate during the 2022 Presidential Election, argues that the fate of the coalition now lies in the balance following the decision by ODM, an affiliate party of Azimio, to work with the Kenya Kwanza government.
While acknowledging the existence of the long-simmering rift that stemmed from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) talks, Karua indicated that the situation has been exuberated by the latest move to join forces with President William Ruto under the broad-based government analogy.
“Azimio is shaky and I think after yesterday (Wednesday, July 24, 2024), it’s done,” Karua stated during an interview with a local radio station.
The Narc-Kenya leader detailed that Azimio could have disintegrated had it not adopted a new plan directing each party to work on popularising and admitting new supporters.
“I am saying shaky because, since the NADCO talks, we have been pulling in different directions. The only thing that saved us is that in the beginning of this year, we decided to let every party go and build itself,” Karua added.
Meeting on Monday
While insisting that she believes Azimio’s future is gleam, Karua revealed that some of the coalition members are expected to convene on Monday, July 29, 2024.
According to Karua, the meeting will decide the way forward regarding the future of Azimio la Umoja.
“From where I sit I think it is done but because we are meeting on Monday with a few of our colleagues so let me not preempt,” Karua disclosed.
Further, Karua notified Kenyans that each party in Azimio is expected to take a stand regarding the latest move by ODM to agree to work with Ruto under the Cabinet arrangement.
“We must ask ourselves, is there anything left worth fighting for.”
Nonetheless, Karua argued that Raila’s men nominated to Cabinet would not have much influence based on Ruto’s way of operation. Karua opined that Ruto controls every ministry in his government so Raila’s men will not have a leeway to execute their mandate unchecked.
Raila’s men nominated to Cabinet
Currently, four top brass in ODM have been nominated to key positions in Cabinet. The main talking point is the selection of Nominated MP John Mbadi to the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning. If approved, Mbadi will be critical in determining key budgetary policies that would be implemented by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Other ODM members nominated to Cabinet are Leader of the Minority side in Parliament Opiyo Wandayi (Ministry of Energy and Petroleum) ODM Deputy Party Leader and former Mombasa County Governor Hassan Joho (Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs) and former Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development).
Despite their nomination, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has come out to dismiss reports that the Opposition party has joined the Kenya Kwanza government.
