Karua meets Eugene amid speculations of Azimio’s fallout
Narc Kenya boss Martha Karua on Tuesday held private talks with former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa amid speculations of a fallout in Azimio.
Tuesday’s meeting comes hours after Karua held another meeting with some Azimio politicians from the Mt Kenya region.
Karua, who was the running mate of opposition leader Raila Odinga in last year’s presidential elections, has lately stepped up consultations with leaders.
Karua and Eugene have openly rejected the National Dialogue Committee report which proposed among other things a referendum to expand the legislature.
The Narc Kenya leader has over the weekend triggered speculations of a bolt out from Azimio after she termed the report “troubling, problematic, and unacceptable”, promising to give details this week.
“I find the NADCO report troubling, problematic, and unacceptable. A more detailed statement [is] loading in the coming week,” Karua said in her verified social media space on Saturday.
The statement came barely days after Raila and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka rallied the coalition’s MPs to endorse the document at a Parliamentary Group meeting.
The two leaders Karua and Eugene were, however, a no-show at the Azimio Parliamentary Group meeting where the opposition publicly backed the report for the first time.
Raila, alongside Musyoka, had last week told reporters that Karua had endorsed the report, dismissing talks of a rift in Azimio.
The ODM leader explained the absence, clarifying she was out of the country, adding that the report’s recommendations had her blessings.
Eugene, the ODM leader said, he did not sign the Nadco report because he was away during the signing ceremony.
“There is no disagreement at all. Wamalwa was here in the meeting of the summit, he had to leave because of a pressing matter,” Raila said on Wednesday.
However, despite Raila cutting a brave image and downplaying fears of a fallout, Karua’s heightened meetings have rendered credence that she is charting her path.
On Monday, Karua met a caucus of Azimio leaders with roots from the Mt Kenya region under the umbrella of the Kamwene forum.
She has previously said Kamwene is a forum to push for Mt Kenya leaders in Azimio but has been hard-pressed to distance it from her political ambitions.
The leaders included former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, ex-Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi, and Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kiioni.
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”Tea with Kamwene leaders,” Karua captioned a photo of the leaders that she shared on her official X account on Monday.
On Tuesday she also posted a photo of her meeting with Eugene and captioned it: ”With my brothers.”
Eugene also shared the same picture on his official X account and captioned it: ”With my Big Sister @MarthaKarua.”
Karua and Eugene argue the cost of living question has not been adequately addressed in the bipartisan talks report, intended to calm tensions and possible violence.
Living costs were, however, the rallying cry of the opposition during bloody protests earlier in the year.
Kioni, an ally of Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta had also rubbished the dialogue committee report as falling short of expectations.
While the report agreed on a raft of measures, including the reduction of some fuel levies, Karua and Eugene, alongside a section of Azimio troops insist it has not exhaustively addressed the high cost of living. It is not mentioned in the Nadco report.
The committee recommended an increase of timelines within which the Supreme Court shall hear and determine a petition challenging the validity of a presidential election from 14 to 21 days.
They also agreed on restructuring and reconstitution of the IEBC and creation of the post of Official Opposition leader with two deputies and the entrenching of the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s office into law.
The committee agreed on the transfer of many devolved functions and the requisite resources to the county governments.
Nadco has also proposed an amendment to the Constitution to provide for the equitable share to the county governments to not less than 20 percent of all revenue collected by the national government from the current 15 percent.
It recommended a Ward Development Fund be established.
Karua meets Eugene amid speculations of Azimio’s fallout
