Azimio considers chief minister to forestall fallout

The Azimio One Kenya Coalition has proposed the position of chief minister in power-sharing talks to avoid a split over Raila Odinga’s choice of a running mate.

The role, whose holder is expected to supervise and coordinate government duties, is said to be designed to pacify individuals vying for the running mate position, such as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua, if they are not chosen.

This comes after the coalition party named a seven-member panel to select the running mate.

The Council’s Secretary-General Junet Mohamed said the advisory panel has up to May 10 to vet potential running mates for the Azimio presidential candidate.

“The panel shall reach its decision through consensus and shall elect its chairperson. The secretary of the panel shall be Elizabeth Meyo,” said Mohamed.

The panel comprises members of the clergy and representatives of political parties in the coalition.

They are; Bishop Peter Njenga, Archbishop Zaccheus Okoth, Senator Enock Wambua, Michael Orwa, Noah Wekesa, Sheik Mohamed Khalifa and Beatrice Moe.

Musyoka noted that the current predicament was dragging him down and preventing him from hitting the ground to campaign for Odinga on the day Azimio named the team to nominate a running partner to the coalition party’s top organ chaired by President Kenyatta.

“I worked with Odinga in 2013 and 2017 and everybody knows the results. In 2013, the Supreme Court disagreed that we did not win but in 2017 the Court said that we indeed won. I can assure you that a Raila-Kalonzo ticket is a sure bet,” he said.

Musyoka yesterday said without him as running mate, Odinga will lose to Deputy President William Ruto.

He said he and Odinga are a winning team and warned that if Azimio does not get it right with the running mate issue, Ruto and his Hustlers will win.

Musyoka, who had first demanded he be the flagbearer, then insisted on being running mate, also said the jostling over the deputy positions makes him want to go home.

He reiterated that his coalition with Odinga “won” both the 2013 and 2017 elections, “according to us,” and questioned why the line-up should be disrupted.

If the coalition forms the next government, the position holder will have broad powers, including the ability to become the government’s face, similar to the role played by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i in President Kenyatta’s second term following the fallout with Deputy President William Ruto.

Some of those touted for the running mate position in Ruto’s fold are Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki as well as MPs Alice Wahome (Kandara) and Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu).

Gachagua, Waiguru, Wahome and Nyoro are seeking to defend their current positions.

Whoever is picked as DP Ruto’s running mate has to drop their interest in the MP seat.