Fight for Kenya's opposition as ODM comes out guns blazing

Homabay governor Gladys Wanga makes her speech during the G-7 women empowerment forum at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos town on August 16, 2024. [John Muia, Standard]

The dilemma in Azimio coalition continues to deepen as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) now maintains a hardline stance that they are in opposition to stay despite appointment of some of their members to Cabinet.

ODM leadership has said it will not accept any continued attempts to use their party leader, Raila Odinga, as a scapegoat, any continued attempt to arm-twist him into endorsing anybody at this stage or to use him as an excuse for the failure of leadership in individual constituent parties.

The party insisted it is the lead party in the opposition and will not only remain so but will continue oversighting government regardless of its members being in government.

This comes against the backdrop of Azimio affiliate parties including Wiper, Jubilee and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) declaring they are now the face of opposition and will continue pushing for Kenyans' rights without their key partner, ODM.

During its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kitale on Saturday, DAP-K said it was committed to playing opposition roles and was not ready to continue working with Raila.

“The NEC has instructed me to notify the Azimio One Kenya Coalition that ODM should formally exit the coalition due to its close association with the Kenya Kwanza government,” Wamalwa said after the NEC meeting and added “As DAP-K, we are remaining in the opposition because we want to rescue Kenyans. Those who want to rescue President Ruto can go ahead and leave the coalition, they can’t be in both opposition and government,” 

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said Azimio affiliate parties will remain the rightful opposition and will undertake that role without fear.

“We will be a very strong opposition because the country requires us to stay strong. We urge Kenyans to believe us. The choice is between saving President William Ruto and his team or the country. We have chosen to save the country,” Kalonzo stated.

Affiliate parties have declared Kalonzo as their opposition leader, saying he has stood with the coalition in the absence of Raila, who is set to run for a continental role as Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).

Kalonzo said those who have decided to get to government are free to do so but what is left of Azimio will stand, adding that it is important in a functioning democracy, to have a strong and responsible opposition and his team is offering that.

But in a rejoinder, ODM yesterday took issue with utterances from its coalition partners, saying they will not accept use of Raila’s bid for AUC to pass ill-intentioned remarks disguised as well wishes and arm twist him on Azimio matters.

ODM National Chairperson, Gladys Wanga dismissed as ‘hot air’ attempts to remove the party from Azimio, insisting that there is no agreement between ODM and Kenya Kwanza that makes them joint partners in government.

She said ODM will continue to play its minority role alongside other parties to push for accountability, transparency, equity and delivery of services to the people in a cost-effective manner.

“As a party, we will not agree to engage with anyone acting in bad faith and with ulterior motives. On the matter at hand - the question of ODM and Raila’s commitment to opposition – our partners are not acting in good faith,” said Wanga, in a press conference held in Nairobi.

She accused their partners of hiding behind ODM members who joined Government and using it to try and wrestle the leadership of Houses of Parliament from ODM, a situation they termed as unacceptable.

“We wish to reiterate the obvious, that House leadership is about numbers in the House not those in Government. As we speak, ODM has the highest number of Mps professing and committed to Azimio ideals and principles. Majority of the Mps from a number of other coalition parties long went to bed with Kenya Kwanza in Parliament,” she said.

Similarly, ODM Deputy Party Leader, Godfrey Osotsi took a swipe on their coalition partners, saying the party can never be intimidated because they stand for justice, democracy and fought against the ills committed to Kenyans for many years.

He said ODM has huge representation across the country and under Azimio coalition, it is the principle party, which cannot be lectured by some of their ‘junior partners’ that they exit.

Osotsi also urged them to make reference to the Political Parties Act, which is very clear, that parties can only get into a coalition agreement if they sign one and file it with the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP).

 He even questioned some of the partners’ status in the coalition, for instance Jubilee party, which he noted has two factions, one led by Jeremiah Kioni.

“When they tell us that we have joined Government, on what basis are they saying that? Is there coalition agreement… there is none. We think that these people are only playing drama and ODM is such a serious party, which is not ready for drama,” Osotsi uttered.

And added: “You cannot intimidate a big party like ODM. We want to advise Kioni to read the law and to visit the office of RPP. I also want to caution them that any attempt to push ODM out of Azimio will be very detrimental to those people pushing for that arrangement. ODM will remain a single major party in opposition based on numbers we have in the National Assembly and Senate.”

But as this happens, Kalonzo who spoke from Embu on Sunday dismissed claims that he has softened his position on the role and will continue pointing out ills by government saying they are determined to do the best thing they know for the country.

“We will walk this journey and watch as we move. Kenyans will be joining this movement for real change. Time for deceitful politics is over. You are dealing with responsible leaders who are determined to get rid of culture of lies in politics in Kenya. We are determined to disabuse anyone saying we are softening or that we are at a cross road,” Kalonzo affirmed.

Kioni, who accompanied Kalonzo, said that under Kalonzo, they are the opposition or the alternative Government and will not be detracted  

“We are clear in our minds what needs to be done. Gen Z made it very clear that you are either with the people or against them. Many people lost their lives during demo and we cannot take this lightly. It is not in doubt where we are going because our leader (Kalonzo) has been with us. This is how it goes in politics,” Kioni said.

Since Raila has launched his bid for the AUC position, Kioni said that they will be here to work with Kenyans.

Kioni also said that leaders should desist from dragging former President Uhuru Kenyatta in their situations, saying he has not instructed any of them to join Government.

“It is important to say that when we talk about Uhuru his mind is also clear. He told people, especially in Mt Kenya region not to go to UDA. It cannot be that he is telling people to go now to government. Double speak is not good for leadership. Uhuru has not instructed any of us to join the Government,” Kioni said.

But Kisumu Women Representative, Rosa Buyu dismissed Kioni’s remarks saying Uhuru is a statesman and can speak to Raila any time he wants.

“Is he (Kioni) telling us he is able to tap telephone calls of every person in this country? Raila does not need to lie that he spoke to Uhuru to cleanse himself as purported by Kioni. Cleanse himself from what? all that Raila did is allow four members to serve in Government at a time when Kenya needed to show unity,” Buyu said.