Azimio weakness is a harbinger of a lousy opposition

Azimio leader Raila Odinga (C), at Jaramogi Oginga Foundation. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

After losing a very winnable election, the Azimio coalition has proceeded to collapse like a house of cards. Given how close the margins were in the Senate and National Assembly, one would have expected a coalition led by none other than Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga to put up a spirited fight for leadership positions.

Instead, Azimio collapsed. Kenya Kwanza, led by President-Elect William Ruto will now preside over a unified government. Unless Speakers Moses Wetang'ula and Amason Kingi jealously guard parliamentary autonomy, this bodes ill for the system of checks and balances.

The last ten years showed us what happens when Speakers defer to State House. Azimio's collapse is an indictment of the leadership skills of Messrs Musyoka, Kenyatta, and Odinga.

One would have expected that after losing the presidency, they would have understood that control of Parliament's two houses was the next best thing, worked tirelessly to keep their coalition together, and peeled off some votes from Kenya Kwanza.

The vote for parliamentary leadership is via secret ballot; and opposition leadership increases the bargaining power of Parliament both as an institution and for individual legislators vis-a-vis State House.

They should have played harder with the intention of winning. If the performance on Thursday is anything to go by, we should expect to have an organisationally weak Azimio in opposition.

Azimio legislators are unlikely to leverage their powers in Bunge, and neither will their governors use their counties to convince voters that they are a better alternative to Kenya Kwanza.

Our constitutional architecture provides several avenues of exercising power and influencing outcomes outside of the presidency.

However, to do so one needs proper organisation. For the sake of the Jamhuri, it is time Azimio woke up and matched Kenya Kwanza's organisational management.

From county assemblies to governors' mansions to Parliament, they should seek to have coherence and a singular focus on improving voters' lives. That is the best way they will keep President-Elect William Ruto accountable.

-The writer is an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University