Divisions are said to be behind the postponement of Azimio coalition launch as silent battles in Raila Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja train halted a planned mega-rally to launch the coalition.
The coalition was supposed to be launched yesterday after the Jubilee Party and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) held their National Delegates Conventions late last week, but the rally was cancelled at the last minute. Instead, the team will hold rallies across the country before announcing their candidate in two weeks.
It is believed that Kalonzo Musyoka’s One Kenya Alliance (OKA) has demanded structured talks.
“We’ll go round the country and after two weeks, I’m certain that we will come back here (Nairobi) to unveil our candidate,” Kenyatta said while paying glowing tribute to Odinga.
However, he made no mention of his candidacy, according to strategists, in order to make OKA feel at ease while they bargain.
Musyoka wants it to be known as the Azimio-OKA coalition and he wants Kenyatta to hold “formal talks.”
“We continue to receive requests for formations that have expressed interest in joining us. Therefore, in the spirit of inclusivity, we have rescheduled the official unveiling of the OKA coalition as well as the signing of the coalition agreement to a later date this week so as to accommodate our new partners,” OKA spokesperson Fred Okang’o said in a statement.
The coalition has sent a tentative date for the launch of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, preceded by a 10-day campaign schedule as released by the team signalling the start of the county wide tours.
The rallies begin on Wednesday in Nakuru before Kissii and Nyamira on Thursday, Machakos on Friday, Bungoma on Saturday and Nyeri on Sunday.
On Tuesday next week the team heads to Wajir and Busia.
