The big Azimio collapse: Narc Kenya exit Azimio as Raila denounce merger with president Ruto

The unceremonious fallout that marks the beginning of the big collapse of the giant Azimio One Kenya Coalition has begun with Narc Kenya Party of Martha Karua formally announcing its exit from the troubled union after the Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party was co-opted in government by president William Ruto.

However, in a move ostensibly aimed at mitigating the possible backlash that could spell doom to Raila’s political future, today, Raila has claimed that neither his ODM party nor the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition has entered into an agreement with president William Ruto’s government despite the Head of State including four of his allies in his list of new cabinet nominees yesterday.

Speaking separately today, Azimio co-principal and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has maintained that the Opposition coalition is still strong despite ODM party members individually accepting the decision to take Cabinet Secretary posts from president Ruto.

Kalonzo also dismissed assertions that he be nominated to the Attorney General post stating that he is not interested to be Kenya Kwanza government’s Chief Advisor.

Karua’s party decision that thrusts a significant shift in the political realignment going forward is contained in a letter dated July 25, 2024, from Acting Secretary General Asha Bashir and addressed to Junet Mohammed, Secretary General of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Secretariat.

This also signals a response to the changing political landscape.

The letter succinctly explains the rationale behind the departure.

“Kindly take note that our stay in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition is not tenable due to the prevailing political developments. 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.” The letter read in part.

“As articulated in our statement on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, neither the ODM party nor Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party has entered into any coalition agreement with President Ruto’s UDA party. We had anticipated the crafting of clear terns of engagement based on issues we raised in our various communiques. While we extend our best wishes to the nominees and trust that they will contribute positively to national development, we continue to advocate for a national engagement under the conditions we have previously outlined as below; compensation to the families of the victims of extra-judicial executions and persons injured by the state since last year, release of all persons in custody and termination of all cases related to protests since last year and prosecution of policemen involved in shooting to kill or maim protestors.” Raila said in a quick dispatch to newsrooms.

Those nominated by the president include John Mbadi to be Cabinet Secretary National Treasury; Opiyo Wandayi to Energy and Petroleum; Ali Hassan Joho to Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs; and Wycliffe Oparanya to the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development.

Mbadi is ODM chairman and is currently serving as a nominated MP while Joho holds the ODM deputy party leader post.

Karua also posted the letter on her account on X, formerly Twitter, underscoring the party’s firm stance.

While dismissing claims of division with the coalition, Musyoka said that despite four top ODM officials being nominated to CS positions and accepting, ODM party had not indicated any intention to leave the Azimio coalition despite its members engaging with the government.

“The coalition as of today has not received an indication or a notice to give effect that ODM will be pulling out of the coalition. If that happens, we will deal with that at that time.” Kalonzo claimed.

Similarly, despite the apparent move by ODM to seek dalliance with the government, Jubilee party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni also allayed fears of divisions.

He affirmed that ODM party leader Raila Odinga was still Azimio’s leader even though the coalition does not support the nomination of its members to Ruto’s cabinet.

The Azimio faction condemned the nomination of ODM members to Ruto’s cabinet, calling it an attempt to weaken the opposition.

“As Azimio, we note that Ruto has nominated the top leadership of one of our constituent parties ODM to his cabinet. With this move, he has attempted to destroy multiparty democracy and seized control of the parliamentary system.” Kioni stated.

However, Kioni went on to accuse president Ruto of silencing opposition voices and undermining Kenya’s democratic framework.

“Ruto’s continued cannibalization of political parties, as he has done with Jubilee and now with ODM, goes against the letter and spirit of the constitution of Kenya. It also offends the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report. We believe that Ruto is an existential threat to our democracy and must be resisted even as we say ‘Ruto must go’.” He added.

The unfolding political dynamics in Kenya signal a period of significant realignment and heightened tensions as the nation approaches critical political milestones.