Raila Odinga shot himself in the foot by allowing Machakos governor Alfred Mutua to quit Azimio instead of addressing his concerns.
Mutua ditched Raila led Azimio la Umoja coalition party and joined the Kenya Kwanza Alliance led by deputy president William Ruto.
The Machakos governor said on Monday May 9th that Maendeleo Chap Chap party had signed an agreement with Ruto-led alliance on Sunday night after they were sidelined in Raila’s Azimio la Umoja.
“Deputy President William Ruto is a good man and he will change this country. Last night we signed an agreement with Kenya Kwanza and here is a copy,” said Mutua.
The Machakos governor lamented that Azimio refused to provide them with details of the coalition agreement leaving him with no option that to quit.
“Unlike Azimio, here is a document we signed and we know its content. They played us and sneaked a document on zoning. They have been doing nothing but managing us. You cannot force people to be in an association they are not respected in,” Mutua told the press.
The Machakos governor further stated that he agreed with Ruto that there will be no zoning, all Kenya Kwanza candidates to face the electorate on August 9th.
“All our aspirants will be on the ballot. We also agreed on the role we’ll play when Kenya Kwanza wins and vice versa.”
Mutua had earlier claimed that the Registrar and the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Coalition refused to give them a copy of the Azimio coalition agreement.
He said more parties have indicated they will be on their way out too. He didn’t reveal the names. PAA party leader Amason Kingi has also joined Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana is among other key Azimio players who have also expressed their frustrations with the deal they signed with Raila led coalition.
Kibwana has indicated that his Muungano Party of Kenya is likely to ditch Azimio after they fell out especially on the zoning issue.
“YE Odinga, you promised the 22 emerging political parties that there would be no ZONING of regional enclaves.We joined Azimio upon your word and in good faith. In both CORD and NASA the so-called small parties faired badly. Let us not guillotine democracy
@RailaOdinga, @skmusyoka,” Kibwana tweeted on May 8th.
YE Odinga, you promised the 22 emerging political parties that there would be no ZONING of regional enclaves.We joined Azimio upon your word and in good faith. In both CORD and NASA the so-called small parties faired badly. Let us not guillotine democracy @RailaOdinga @skmusyoka
— Kivutha Kibwana (@governorkibwana) May 8, 2022
On April 20th, Kibwana lamented that Kalonzo Musyoka has been determined to kick him out of Azimio ever since he joined the coalition.
“It is proving impossible to work with@skmusyokain Azimio in Ukambani. After he joined us, he has wanted especially me out of all Azimio structures. I have no choice but to be at peace with this sad reality. History will ultimately judge all of us. May IT be kind
@RailaOdinga”
It is proving impossible to work with @skmusyoka in Azimio in Ukambani. After he joined us, he has wanted especially me out of all Azimio structures. I have no choice but to be at peace with this sad reality. History will ultimately judge all of us. May IT be kind @RailaOdinga
— Kivutha Kibwana (@governorkibwana) April 20, 2022
Kalonzo Musyoka himself through his allies led by Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr have been threatening to quit Azimio coalition if the Wiper leader is not picked as Raila’s running mate.
Kalonzo and his allies have intensified calls to have the Azimio presidential candidate name him as running mate.
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr was the first to start the demand for the seat, asserting that the deputy president in the Azimio camp must come from Wiper.
Kalonzo has been quoted as saying he would approach discussions around coalition building as a tough negotiator, and that he would not budge.
If Raila doesn’t calm the rebellion in Azimio, he can as well kiss the presidency goodbye for good. Losing Ukambani vote basket will have a big impact on his quest to be the 5th.
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