Kalonzo Shields Azimio Leaders from Arrest as Raila Steps Aside
On Sunday, April 14, Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka stepped forward to support the challenged Azimio principals, who face potential arrest and legal action regarding corruption cases involving millions.
Addressing a crowd in Mumias, Kakamega County, Kalonzo offered support to former governors Mwangi wa Iria of Murang’a and Wycliffe Oparanya of Kakamega following recommendations from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) for charges against the Azimio principals.
This occurred during a period when Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio coalition, has been observed to step back from active involvement in local opposition politics, directing his attention towards his campaign for the chairperson position of the African Union Commission (AUC).
Kalonzo addressed the public the day following allegations against Mwangi wa Iria, suggesting a conflict of interest in the allocation of a Ksh140 million publicity contract during his tenure as Murang’a Governor.
“We shall stand with our brother Mwangi Wa Iria come rain come sunshine. You cannot weaponize the war against corruption,” Kalonzo stated.
The ex-Vice President commented that the present government was utilizing constitutional investigative bodies to suppress opposition voices.
According to him, if authorities are genuinely committed to combating corruption, they ought to ensure that both the ODPP and EACC also scrutinize government officials.
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“The real criminals and corrupt people are known and are out there. Go for them,” he remarked.
Kalonzo expressed astonishment at the sight of Mwangi wa Iria facing prosecution while individuals with criminal cases were holding positions within the present administration.
Moreover, he expressed sorrow over the government’s practice of publicly shaming opposition figures, referencing a past incident when Oparanya was arrested in public alongside his wife.
Recently, Raila Odinga has notably been absent from Azimio press conferences over the past couple of months, during which the focus has been on rallying against various government policies and directives.
The previous week, Kalonzo and other leaders from the Azimio coalition held a press conference during which they warned of their potential participation in the doctors’ strike unless President William Ruto addressed the deadlock.
Afterward, Raila Odinga, accompanied solely by members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), held a press conference to address the healthcare workers’ strike.
Interestingly, his statement diverged from the previous Azimio briefing as he chose not to mention leading Azimio to participate in the strike if the issue wasn’t addressed promptly.
Kalonzo Shields Azimio Leaders from Arrest as Raila Steps Aside