Azimio governors reject Raila’s proposal to counter Ruto
Azimio governors reject Raila's proposal to counter the Kenya Kwanza government
Azimio governors reject Raila’s proposal to counter the Kenya Kwanza government.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s meeting with coalition-affiliated governors in Naivasha highlighted rifts within the group, with many publicly alleging that President William Ruto is attempting to weaken the opposition by wooing them.
Mr. Odinga, Martha Karua, his running mate in the August 9 presidential election, and Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of the Wiper Party, had to face reality when several county chiefs rejected a number of the coalition’s counterproposals to the Kenya Kwanza government.
According to sources, some Azimio governors were opposed to mass action that Raila Odinga threatened to call over the plan to remove four commissioners of the electoral agency.
“The principals were told that Kenyans only want stability. Our people are battling an ailing economy, joblessness, hunger, and many other ills. This is not the appropriate time for mass action,” a governor who attended the retreat said yesterday.
Principals of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition have voiced worries about some of the leaders getting along with President Ruto.
However, the governors argued that in order to achieve real progress, they must collaborate with the government.
Some others acknowledged that the Kenya Kwanza administration has been contacting them about severing ties to the opposition.
But they assured Mr. Odinga, Ms. Karua, and Mr. Musyoka that they would not jump ship.
“We shall engage the government on the basis of mutual cooperation and consultation for the benefit of our people within the framework of the principles of the two levels of government being distinct and interdependent,” the governors said in a statement read by Kisumu county boss Anyang Nyong’o.
The division also forced the alliance to put on hold a plan to name a shadow cabinet.
“We told off the principals when they argued that Kenyans are dejected and disillusioned and therefore, Azimio should work on modalities to keep Kenya kwanza government in check. We reminded them of the heavy investments we made in the August elections,” a first term governor said.
“We spent a lot of time and resources. There were advisers and experts hired by Azimio who contributed to Ruto’s victory.”
Another governor said many leaders were non-committal on some of the strategies proposed to counter the Kenyan Kwanza dominance.
“We told the principals that we will remain strong in advancing our coalition’s agenda but work with the government since we need the goodwill of the current administration,” the governor said.
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