Tension in Azimio as affiliate parties protest over joint primaries proposal
The Democratic Party of Kenya (DAP-K), which is linked to Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has rejected a proposal to have joint primaries sparking mistrust in the Raila Odinga-led Azimio La Umoja movement.
Speaking yesterday, Butere MP Tindi Mwale, a member of DAP-K accused Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) officials of being arrogant and intolerant to affiliate parties.
“The issue of joint nominations is still a big headache for us. If we are not careful ODM will dictate to us even in areas where DAP enjoys massive support,” said Mwale.
Mwale, who recently defected from Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) said that since the ANC party completely supports Raila’s presidential bid individual parties should be allowed to field candidates for all positions.
“As DAP we are not going to accept to be bullied around by ODM. We are in Azimio for Raila, the rest is for us to decide which candidate to field in the various seats,” he said.
The MP was responding to National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed’s recent comments that applicants for various seats in Azimio-dominated areas must join Odinga’s ODM party.
This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga devised a new approach to determine popular candidates to fly the coalition’s flag in the August 9 General Election.
The duo has hired a pollster to conduct research that will help in determining popular candidates who will be offered straight tickets based on the results of the scientific method.
“The study will assist us to manage sibling rivalry. There will be an Azimio candidate for all positions throughout the nation,” Muriithi said.
Edwin Sifuna, the ODM Secretary General confirmed that this is the new technique that will be used to figure out who the popular candidates are and support them.
“In instances where we find a favourite candidate belonging to a different party, we will reach out to them. If we find that the person leading in the opinion poll is leaning towards UDA, we shall convince them to join us. We poach them and give them an offer to be our candidate,” Sifuna stated.
