Azimio-OKA deal: Kalonzo Musyoka kicks up a storm

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka at his Tseikuru home , Kitui County, March 14, 2022. [Philip Muasya, Standard]

Contradictions and confusion surrounding the finer details of the Azimio coalition agreement have revealed the mistrust and political intrigues that preceded and followed the unveiling of ODM leader Raila Odinga as the coalition’s flag-bearer at the weekend.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka yesterday said it was unlikely that the Secretaries-General of the parties that signed the agreement probably do not know what they signed, raising questions about the details of the deal. A total of 25 parties signed the coalition agreement at the KICC in Nairobi.

Mr Musyoka claimed that the agreement was hurriedly done without giving the constituent parties time to comb through the details. He also proposed that party lawyers be given time to scrutinise the documents for further guidance.

Once signed, parties are expected to deposit their coalition agreement with the Registrar of Political Parties, Ms Ann Nderitu.

Initially, Mr Musyoka, a former Vice President, had suggested that the deal was between Azimio La Umoja Movement and One Kenya Alliance (OKA) while indicating the deal entailed changing the name of the coalition to Azimio-One Kenya.

However, in an earlier interview with KTN News, Ms Nderitu said it was not possible for two coalitions to form a coalition party.

Yesterday, Kanu – a constituent party of both OKA and Azimio – also appeared to differ with Mr Musyoka by stating that parties signed the Azimio deal as individual outfits.

Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat also hinted at the end of OKA by stating that the agreement that they signed on Friday before joining Azimio was yet to be deposited with the registrar. Instead, he said, there was a plan to deposit the Azimio deal instead of the OKA one.

“We signed as individual parties. There was nothing like OKA signing agreement. This was a negotiated thing that has so many complexities and there was a lot of push and pull,” said Mr Salat. “At the end of the day, it is the agreement that is deposited that will count. I think the one that will eventually end up at the registrar is this of Azimio”.

He described politics as fluid, saying that leaders look for where their best interests are taken care of.

The same position was confirmed by the Azimio campaign spokesperson, Prof Makau Mutua, and the chairman of Azimio’s national campaign board, Mr Ndiritu Muriithi, who said there was no coalition-to-coalition agreement signed during the Saturday ceremony.

The two said it was not possible for OKA to enter a deal with another coalition since there is no provision for a coalition-to-coalition agreement in law.

“What was signed was an agreement to form Azimio Coalition. All the parties signed as individual outfits; whether ODM or Wiper, they all signed as individual parties,” said Mr Muriithi.

Prof Makau Mutua (left) and Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi during a press briefing at Serena Hotel, March 14, 2022. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

In an exclusive interview with KTN News, Kalonzo cast doubt about the Saturday deal, claiming that things were mixed up to the extent that party officials were not privy to the content of the agreement.

“Things were mixed up. I am sure all those secretaries-general; none knows what we signed,” he said.

He claimed that the initial agreement was to sign under Azimio-One Kenya but ODM Director of Elections, Mr Junet Mohammed, “caused confusion” by proposing Mr Odinga to be Azimio’s presidential nominee.

He said that it was because of the hurry in entering the deal that Mr Cyrus Jirongo of United Democratic Party (UDP) and Ms Martha Kenya (Narc-Kenya) failed to show up for the major political event.

Mr Musyoka said that Ms Karua was uncomfortable with the “legal technicalities” around the deal and was still weighing her options to establish if joining the formation will be of benefit to her political course.

“If the process was not rushed as it were then OKA would have come. For instance, my SG didn’t sign everything because some were for Azimio la Umoja parties, which Wiper is not,” said Mr Musyoka. “The whole process was confusing. Our legal minds should look into the legal technicality of the agreement”.

Yesterday, however, Mr Jirongo said he was firmly behind Mr Oding’a candidature despite his absence at the event. He said he was “out of town” when the event was held.

Critically, Mr Jirongo also holds the view that they are part of Azimio as OKA, not as individual parties and described the new arrangement as “a three-legged stool”. However, his party is set to sign the deal today.

“We have no issue. We are united and we are together in joining Azimio-One Kenya. Let nobody cheat you there is division,” he said.

Prof Mutua and Governor Miriithi while addressing a press briefing in Nairobi said those who have joined Azimio have declared their support for Mr Odinga to run for the top seat.

Asked whether Mr Musyoka would be picked as running mate, Prof Mutua said: “The parties have joined Azimio unconditionally, but that does not mean there is no negotiations ongoing.”