Azimio Insiders Explain Why Meeting Was Cancelled Last Minute Amid Karua-Kalonzo Fued Reports
Azimio leaders have downplayed suggestions that the ongoing dispute between Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua compelled Raila to abruptly cancel a scheduled meeting of Azimio leaders.
Addressing the press, John Mbadi, the Chairperson of ODM, clarified that the cancellation resulted from the unavailability of party leaders who had busy schedules.
He asserted that there was no conflict between Kalonzo and Karua, despite reports suggesting that the latter opposed holding the meeting at the Steven Kalonzo Musyoka Command Centre.
“It has been reported that there are differences between Kalonzo and Karua as she did not want to meet at SKM. We have many places where that meeting would have been moved to,” Mbadi stated.
“We have the Jaramogi Foundation, Capital Hill, and our parties also have headquarters and the meeting could have been held there. So, I do not think that could have caused the meeting to be canceled,” he added.
Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, in his response, reiterated the same views as Mbadi, elucidating that many political parties were involved in diverse activities throughout the nation.
He stated that the Azimio leadership was determined to include all parties in the important meeting and not exclude any of them.
“The activities of the coalition parties were such that it could not have allowed the parties to come together,” he stated.
Raila and his forces were in the coastal region, actively engaging in ODM recruitment efforts. Meanwhile, the former President, Uhuru Kenyatta, who held the position of council chairperson, was in Uganda for discussions with President Yoweri Museveni.
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The Azimio gathering, led by ex-Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, was planned for Thursday, aiming to address the emerging disagreements among the parties, as per reports.
Opposition parties diverged in their positions on the National Dialogue Committee report, with ODM and Wiper partially endorsing it, while Narc Kenya and Jubilee rejected the findings.
Some of the main suggestions included conducting an audit of the electoral process in 2022, solidifying the NG-CDF, National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and the Senate Oversight Fund, and establishing and fortifying state offices, such as the Prime Minister’s and opposition leader’s offices.
Alternatively, the emergence of factions within Azimio has been triggered by succession politics. Specifically, there have been public disagreements between Kalonzo and Karua regarding the Azimio Mt Kenya caucus, Kamwene.
“This thing means individualism. It’s a terrible political philosophy. I would advise my friends to leave it and we stick together in Azimio,” Kalonzo stated during an interview on KTN News.
“What about Kamwene scares my brother Kalonzo Musyoka that he must drag it in every conversation he has?” Karua responded.
Azimio Insiders Explain Why Meeting Was Cancelled Last Minute Amid Karua-Kalonzo Fued Reports
