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Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga and Martha Karua at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation on July 12, 2023. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]
The uneasy political alliance between Raila Odinga and Martha Karua was laid bare on Thursday as the two former running mates publicly disagreed over the broad-based government arrangement.
Their differences played out during the funeral service of Julius Laban Murungi, father of Betty Murungi and father-in-law to Siaya Governor James Orengo, in Chogoria, Maara Constituency, Tharaka Nithi County.
Odinga, defended his party’s engagement with President William Ruto's administration, reiterating that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) remains in opposition.
"Last election we paired with Karua, we traversed all parts of this country looking for support. You know what happened after the elections. That is water under the bridge. The country is bigger than any of us and must move on," Odinga said.
However, Karua, a vocal critic of the broad-based government, accused Odinga of compromising opposition principles by engaging with the ruling coalition.
She insisted that such an arrangement was unconstitutional.
"The framers of our constitution found it fit to decree that Kenya would be a multi-party democracy, that in Parliament there will be a minority side and a majority side. But when you merge, as is happening in the broad-based government, you deny people the power to question the government from a position of strength," Karua asserted.
She further urged Odinga to formalize any agreements with Ruto’s administration through the registrar of political parties if he was indeed aligning with the government.
"While blessing the broad-based government for those who see it that way, I still request them to do what the law says—to enter into political holy matrimony, which is a coalition registered by the registrar of political parties,” she added.
“Let the vital committees sit with parties absolutely not in government so that we are able to continue having a debate that is healthy for this country."
Odinga, however, dismissed claims that he had joined the government, maintaining that his role remains that of an opposition leader overseeing the executive.
"Parliament is not for the government or opposition to have a minority and majority. But all of them are overseeing the executive. We have not joined the executive, but we are in opposition in Parliament," he stated.
The exchange rekindled tensions reminiscent of the duo's past political fallouts, highlighting the widening ideological divide within the opposition.
Karua, who served as Odinga’s running mate in the 2022 elections under the Azimio la Umoja coalition, affirmed her decision to remain firmly in opposition.
"I firmly remain with the people, and today we must continue questioning the government, its policies, and continue saying no to abductions, executions, and grand theft of public funds while basic services suffer," she said.
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She added that the broad-based government arrangement weakens the opposition’s ability to hold the executive accountable.
"When you merge the minority and majority as is happening in the broad-based government, you deny people the power to question the government from a position of strength," she emphasized.
Despite their differences, Karua insisted that her relationship with Odinga remained intact.
"I remain a friend of Baba; he is my brother. But politically, we have agreed to disagree," she said.
The public disagreement between Odinga and Karua underscores growing fault lines in the opposition, raising questions about the future of Kenya’s political landscape as alliances shift and ideological battles intensify.
The political wrangling prompted a call for unity from Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who warned against leaders fueling divisions.
"Even some of us in government have condemned abductions and continue condemning corruption and other ills," said Kuria.
"Let us also support the good deeds, but let us not return this country to tribal divisions. When you, Karua, join hands with those leaders spreading hatred, you will know every sinner has a future."
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The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
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