Cracks emerge in Azimio over party nominations

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu checks her watch as she talks to former Water CS Sicily Kariuki during the Azimio Women Movement launch at Nairobi Serena Hotel on February 10, 2022.  [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Cracks have started emerging in Azimio la Umoja after affiliate parties dismissed a proposal to adopt consensus in nominating aspirants for various seats ahead of the August 9 polls.

As ODM is pushing for consensus in nominating aspirants who are supporting Raila Odinga presidency, other affiliate parties in the coalition want to field candidates in other elective positions.

At the same time, ODM lawmakers who are opposed to the idea of nominating aspirants through consensus are defecting to affiliate parties within Azimio la Umoja.

"Raila is our presidential candidate but for other elective seats we shall have candidates," said Wafula Wamunyinyi, the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) party leader.

"We already candidates for the Governor, Senator, Woman Rep, MP and MCA and we will go all the way to the ballot. We want to have a healthy competition within the Azimio la Umoja coalition at the polls and may strong candidates carry the day."

Wamunyinyi was speaking yesterday at Sabatia market in Butere constituency while opening a DAP-K office.

Various seats

He was accompanied by Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and MPs Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren), Peter Nabulindo (Matungu), Ayub Savula (Lugari), Janet Nangabo (Trans Nzoia Woman MP), Naomi Shiyonga (nominated Senator) and a host of local leaders.

According to Wamunyinyi, all affiliate parties in the coalition should be given freedom to field candidates in other elective seats, though ODM has made it clear that they will not entertain any form of competition from its siblings within the coalition.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya is pushing to have consensus in nominating aspirants though many are against the idea.

Already, Senator Shiyonga who is nominated through ODM has defected to DAP-K citing lack of internal democracy in the party and she is opposed to a proposal to use consensus in nominating aspirants for various seats.

Shiyonga was to face off with Kakamega Woman Rep Elsie Muhanda for the party nominations.

"I am an ODM nominated senator but I will be vying for the Woman Rep seat on DAP-K.

"We want a level playing ground within the Azimio la Umoja coalition and affiliate parties should be allowed to field candidates for all elective seats because we have common interests of making Raila the president," said Shiyonga.

Makes miscalculations

Savula is the DAP-K governor candidate for Kakamega and MPs Mwale and Nabulindo will also be defending their seats through the party.

At the same time, Wamalwa has told Kenya Kwanza leaders led by Deputy President William Ruto, ANC's Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya's Moses Wetang'ula to stop insulting President Uhuru Kenyatta  and sell their agenda to Kenyans.

"Mudavadi always makes miscalculations every electioneering period and remains out of government. He should keep quiet in Ruto's camp and stop insulting Uhuru," said Wamalwa.

Wamalwa said as a region, they are supporting Raila since he will only be president for one term and pass over the button to a Luhya leader.

"Elijah Masinde prophesied that our leadership shall come from the lake. That time has come through Raila and come 2027, we shall have a Luhya presidential candidate who shall succeed Raila," said Wamalwa.

Tindi Mwale, the Butere MP said he defected from ANC to support Raila presidency since he is the only who can break the jinx of two communities nominating the presidency since independence.

"We have supported Raila in 2007, 2013 and 2017. We can't abandon him when his way to State House is clear and then we inherit the presidency in 2027," said Mwale.