Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential aspirant Raila Odinga has moved to quell the protest by affiliate parties.
Raila yesterday met with Maendeleo Chap Chap Leader Alfred Mutua and other leaders where the spokesman for his Presidential campaign Makau Mutua said the ODM leader met the bosses of the affiliate parties “to foster the interests of our political movement and clarify a number of issues”.
Mutua stated that the coalition council, the top organ of Azimio, has been expanded to eleven members.
“There will be no zoning of the country for any political party. The talks touched on inclusivity, equity and consultation, all aimed at guiding and anchoring our coalition party ahead of the August elections,” Mutua said.
The meeting also resolved that the issue of the running mate would be decided on in consultation with partner parties “at the appropriate time”.
“There was a resolution to expand the Coalition Council, the top organ of Azimio, to 11 members and that coalition party organs will not include party caucuses or alliances,” Mutua added.
This comes after eight political parties decried exclusion in decision-making within the coalition and threatened to quit if their grievances were not addressed.
The eight parties are MCC, Narc, Muungano, Kenya Reform Party, Chama Cha Uzalendo, Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), People’s Trust Party and Maendeleo Democratic Party – signed to join a caucus dubbed Mwanzo Mpya, threatening to tear Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya alliance apart.
Governor Mutua had said the Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) Party was weighing its options after they were not included in the co-operation agreement of the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party.
Mutua said MCC and seven other parties feel sidelined and claimed that there is a plot to short-change the fringe parties in the coalition.
“Our plan was to consolidate as many votes for Raila Odinga and especially for us in Ukambani, we thought the three of us governors who were supporting Raila Odinga, if we add Kalonzo Musyoka, it would be good for us because victory is what matters. We left it at that,” Mutua said.
“The following day, my secretary-general called and wanted to see the rest of the document because I did not sign as the Party Leader, only the Party Secretaries signed, and the document has not been forthcoming. We have been asking for that document to see it and up to now we have not seen it.”
The meeting was also attended by Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu (Narc) and Makueni’s Kivutha Kibwana (Muungano) as well as representatives of other parties.
