The ongoing disorder within the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition has placed former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s position under intense scrutiny as coalition leaders continue to offer conflicting narratives regarding his involvement.
On Sunday, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka attempted to dissociate Mr Kenyatta from the recent alliance between ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto, a partnership that has fueled current tensions within the coalition. Mr Musyoka’s remarks in Mombasa appeared to contradict Mr Odinga’s recent claims that the former president was instrumental in the arrangement that saw certain ODM politicians join the Cabinet. During a funeral service in Elgeyo Marakwet County last month, Mr Odinga suggested that Mr Kenyatta urged him to support President Ruto during the peak of anti-government protests led by the youth, despite the widespread belief that Mr Kenyatta had no interest in aligning with the current administration.
Adding to the complexity, Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has dismissed Mr Odinga’s assertions. As the self-proclaimed official opposition leader, Mr Musyoka reaffirms that he, along with Mr Kenyatta and other Azimio leaders, intends to field a candidate against Dr Ruto in the 2027 elections. He emphasizes that the coalition would remain united and strong, even as Mr Odinga exits the political scene to potentially pursue the African Union Commission chairmanship. This comes amid speculation of a possible partnership between ODM and Dr Ruto in the next general election. Mr Musyoka reiterates his commitment to rescuing the country from what he perceives as poor governance under the Kenya Kwanza regime. He criticizes ODM politicians for being influenced by Mr Ruto’s charm offensive during his recent development tour in the Nyanza region.
Furthermore, Mr Musyoka accuses President Ruto of attempting to undermine Kenya’s multi-party democratic framework by leveraging his influence to consolidate opposition parties in support of his re-election bid. Accompanied by Mr Kioni and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, Mr Musyoka also condemns the president’s directive to train National Youth Service (NYS) recruits in handling firearms, arguing that this is an attempt to suppress future public protests. The leaders referenced Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities peacefully and unarmed, asserting that the government has no authority to curtail these rights.
The controversy arose after President Ruto, during an NYS pass-out parade in Gilgil, instructed Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi to collaborate with the ministries of Interior and Defence to incorporate paramilitary training for recruits to enable them to handle firearms. Despite losing the 2022 presidential election, Azimio remains a significant opposition force in Kenyan politics. However, the coalition has encountered internal challenges due to the shifting political landscape and President Ruto’s influence. Mr Kenyatta’s role has been particularly contentious, with differing opinions on his level of involvement and influence within the coalition.
