Opposition fractures force Uhuru, Kalonzo into emergency meeting

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka during a requiem mass at Holy Family Minor Basilica, Nairobi.[File, Standard]

Former  President Uhuru Kenyatta and Wiper Patriotic Front (WFP) leader Kalonzo Musyoka held a crisis meeting to resolve the internal wrangles rocking the ‘United’ Alternative Government.

At the heart of the internal fight is the feeling by a section of Principals of the Opposition that Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigahti Gachagua is overbearing and bullish following his calls on political parties to dissolve and join his party. They also think he is an impediment to their chances of picking a presidential candidate.

Other contentious issues that the two leaders discussed is the disagreements within the Opposition parties on the formula and the right time for the Opposition to name its Presidential flagbearer where some leaders claim they should have named their leader by April this year.

Already, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi has indicated that his preferred Presidential candidate would be Kalonzo who is also the party leader of the Azimio coalition party and the co-convener of the United Alternative Government alongside People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua.

Insiders say the move by Muturi unsettled a section of the Opposition leaders such as the Jubilee deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i, who has since been co-opted into the Azimio Council in another desperate effort to quell the growing disquiet.

According to sources, the move to co-opt Matiang’i was also informed by jitters and worries from his political camp. They had argued that as deputy party leader, Matiang'i  qualified to be at the negotiations table. Upon elevation to the Azimio Council, he will now be at the bargaining meetings.

“The inclusion of Matiang’i in the council was to try and solve the growing tension within the Opposition but even after we did it, we encountered another hurdle; objections of the sister parties to join the Azimio,” a source said.

Some of the leaders opposed to the Azimio coalition party include Karua whose party hit the exit button following the late ODM leader Raila Odinga’s move to join the Kenya Kwanza government through the Broad Based government.

Yesterday, Gachagua maintained that his DCP party at the moment was not interested in joining any coalition but was focused on political consolidation and mobilization saying it was the first step towards attaining government.

“For a coalition we say no for now, you can’t be a President before consolidating votes, our focus for now is consolidation. I met with Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino and I told them to go and consolidate in areas they are influential,” said the DCP leader.

He added “How do you talk to somebody who has not consolidated anything, you walk alone in a bargaining table and you want consultation, how can you talk to somebody without numbers,’ he posed.

While Gachagua’s approach is to lock out Ruto in ethnic regions, other leaders within the Opposition loots for scientific polls and virtues such as competence and integrity, another point of departure by the Opposition leaders.

 The meeting yesterday between Kalonzo and Uhuru sought to come up with strategies that could bring to an end the turmoil that risks fracturing its intention to forge a united front against President William Ruto in next year’s polls.

Another major topic canvassed by the two leaders included developing an internal mechanism to solve wrangles within the Opposition as opposed to leaders tearing each other apart in public, a move that insiders believe will give Ruto an edge to divide the Opposition further.

On Tuesday, three party leaders; Justin Muturi (DP) Leny Kivuti (Devolution Empowerment Party, DEP) and Peter Munya (Party of National Unity (PNU) accused Gachagua of creating unnecessary divisions within the opposition by calling on dissolution of other parties within Mt Kenya region.

 "We call upon Gachagua to embrace structured dialogue, consultation and respectful engagement among all like-minded political parties," Munya said.

The leaders said enduring political partnerships are founded on equality, trust and respect for each party's institutional independence rather than demands that some parties cease to exist.

"Durable political partnerships are built on equality, trust and respect for institutional autonomy," he said.

According to Munya it would be contradictory for parties to invest in building their own political structures while at the same time being encouraged to dissolve and merge into another outfit.

"We must stop threatening those of diverse backgrounds and beliefs about our political standing to grow our democracy. It cannot be that one is praised for joining DCP but criticised for joining another party," Munya said.

Other issues that have led to a fall out are the claims of disrespect to other parties by Gachagua’s allies who reportedly depict Opposition Principals as lazy while presenting Gachagua is the engine behind the Opposition.

However, Gachagua in his response, maintained he had not asked for dissolution of any political party saying every party was free to endear its manifesto to the people.

“I want to clarify that DCP and Gachagua welcome all political parties, let us compete fairly, the only thing we shall not compete against is the Presidential candidate, DCP will field candidates in all the elective positions other than the Presidency, as that will require negotiations,” he said.

The meeting between Kalonzo and Uhuru came a day after the Wiper leader met Gachagua on Tuesday morning where the two reportedly did not agree on a number of issues that informed yesterday’s meeting.

Kalonzo urged Uhuru to convene a meeting with all the other Principals, a request the former President agreed but did not give a date.

Uhuru only met the Opposition leaders on April 1 this year in a burial in Kirinyaga where he urged them to remain united as he assured them of his support.

He was clear that their shared vision is to oust Ruto from power and for that to happen, they should always remain united. He said if any of them drift, they could be ‘burnt’ by Kenyans who want a change in Ruto’s regime.

Uhuru reportedly reiterated his unity calls to the Opposition leaders and told them to solve their differences internally while focusing on the main agenda of unseating the President.

“He maintained that we must always put the interest of the people first while reminding us of the 2002 moment when the late Raila Odinga decamped from the Kanu party, leaving him exposed politically. He said such a moment should be replicated as a strategy to defeat Ruto’s administration,” an Opposition figure said.