Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga will have a hard time balancing leaders who are backing his campaign amid cobbling together with One Kenya Alliance (OKA).
OKA leader Kalonzo Musyoka has given the strongest indication that he would join the Odinga-led coalition.
Speaking at Cyrus Jirongo’s United Democratic Party (UDP) National Delegates Convention (NDC), Musyoka said OKA and Azimio were already talking the same language, signalling an impending deal.
“We in OKA believe in the unity of the country. It seems we are singing the same message with Azimio,” Musyoka said.
Things will be worse for Odinga if leaders from the One Kenya Alliance Musyoka, Kanu’s Gideon Moi, Narc-Martha Kenya’s Karua, and the United Democratic Party’s Cyrus Jirongo join Azimio.
Odinga, would have a delicate balancing act to pick Cabinet Secretaries if he succeeds in forming the next government, as the constitution stipulates that the Cabinet must include at least 14 and no more than 21 Cabinet Secretaries.
This is because it is expected that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s backing will result in his party receiving a share of government appointments, a power-sharing accord enshrined in law via a coalition agreement filed with the Registrar of Political Parties.
The Odinga campaign, which is backed by President Kenyatta, has drawn senior Jubilee officials as well as second-term governors who have gone all out to campaign for the Orange Democratic Movement leader.
Political commentator Martin Andati said accommodating the interests of all people in a super coalition would pose a serious challenge.
“Accommodation of all these people will be a real headache. To balance it, put a few of them in Cabinet, some as chief administrative secretaries and others as parastatal bosses,” he said.
Munya and Yatani put their political ambitions on hold in Meru and Marsabit counties, respectively, as part of a deal for their inclusion in the future government, according to many.
The CSs used to attack Odinga before the March 2018 ‘handshake,’ but they now have their sights set on Deputy President William Ruto, the common political foe.
Jubilee has wanted the role of running mate and a share of administration, making it difficult to satisfy other coalition partners as well as critical ODM loyalists, especially because President Kenyatta is expected to stay on as party leader to ensure the coalition agreement.
Second-term governors have likewise opted to put their political ambitions aside in order to advocate for the former Prime Minister Odinga’s deputies in ODM, Kakamega’s Wycliffe Oparanya and Mombasa’s Hassan Ali Joho, both stood down for their boss.
Some retiring county chiefs have created political parties in order to increase their bargaining power in Azimio la Umoja, further aggravating Odinga’s predicament.
Other governors supporting Odinga are Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Ali Roba (Mandera), Martin Wambora (Embu), Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo-Marakwet), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay) and James Ongwae (Kisii).
