Opposition’s Azimio coalition in limbo after president Ruto appointed 4 ODM leaders to cabinet
A major fallout is looming within the opposition’s Azimio One Kenya Coalition after president William Ruto nominated four senior ranking members of the ODM party, one of the major affiliate opposition coalition parties as part of his new broad-based government following sustained countrywide protests that have disrupted economic activities.
If their nomination is upheld by the National Assembly and they assume office, ODM would have effectively joined government through the Raila Odinga led party.
This would leave Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as the probable most formidable leader of opposition alongside Martha Karua of Narc Kenya and Jubilee Party leaders.
Further, the youth led nationwide protests that reached the peak by unprecedented storming of parliament has been agitating for better governance and accountability that have left scores shot dead, injured and unexplained abductions.
Today, the president nominated ODM’s John Mbadi to 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.
Wandanyi is the serving Ugunja Member of Parliament (MP) and the Minority Leader in the National Assembly.
The nominees are all allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga, whom president Ruto defeated in the 2022 election.
In the second batch of CS nominees announced this afternoon, the president’s announcement has thrown the opposition in disarray despite past fervent statements that they are not desperate to join the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Barely 24 hours earlier, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna warned its members against making themselves available for Cabinet appointments.
“Any ODM member who makes themselves available to join the Kenya Kwanza Cabinet or any other position should know that they do so without the blessing or support of the party.” Sifuna said.
In his statement, Sifuna reiterated that the party was not in any negotiations with the government for any coalition or political arrangement, bringing more confusion in the opposition’s plan to work with the government.
Last week, several opposition Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition principals said they had no plans of joining the government, terming it as a means of betrayal to the Kenyan people.
Led by Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, the other parties comprised Jubilee, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Kenya, NARC Kenya, and the Party of National Unity.
On the other hand, ODM party had given an indication of its willingness to work with the current administration during the latest Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting whereby they endorsed the calls for dialogue to get the country out of the current crisis.
Further, ODM National Chairman Mbadi had accused their coalition members of being dishonest, instead of finding means to save the country’s future.
“We cannot follow Kalonzo because we do not know where he is going. I am not persuaded that Kalonzo is taking us anywhere,” Mbadi said over the weekend. “This country must talk. Our partners in Azimio are dishonest. We have children and we have a country to save for them.” He said.
Joho had also reiterated that the Raila Odinga-led ODM would choose the option that is ideal for the party.
“We must identify what works for us as ODM. We are the bigger party in Azimio and we cannot be bullied.’ He noted.
Raila, who initiated the dialogue conversation with the government, also noted that the consequences for President Ruto’s resignation would be dire.
“It’s at times of crisis like this that a country needs to talk. We are not doing it to save Ruto. We are doing it to save Kenya. Generals don’t have teargas. They don’t have water cannons. They have bullets.” Raila said during the recent ODM PG meeting.
