Western leaders want Azimio affiliate parties to discharge their role as the opposition instead of engaging in needless squabbles.
Affiliate parties have accused the Orange Democratic Party of betrayal after four of its members accepted Cabinet positions in the Kenya Kwanza government last week.
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula told Wiper, Jubilee, DAP and Roots parties to keep the government in check.
“We cannot afford to lack opposition in Kenya because as we speak now, Gen Z is acting as the opposition wing. Azimio should let go of Raila Odinga and his ODM troops and focus on its role as opposition with the help of our youths,” Savula said.
“We are not interested in joining the government to get Cabinet secretary slots. We are okay with remaining in opposition. If we do not assume the role of a strong opposition, we risk going back to a one-party state. We need to provide checks and balances on issues such as expenditure, corruption, and the high cost of living,” he added.
President William Ruto on Wednesday nominated the ODM top brass as Cabinet secretaries, sending the party into loggerheads with other Azimio affiliates.
Martha Karua's Narc Kenya has since issued a notice to withdraw from the coalition following the development.
The President nominated former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya as Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs in the broad-based government unveiled at State House.
He also nominated John Mbadi to Cabinet Secretary National Treasury; Opiyo Wandayi to Energy and Petroleum and Ali Hassan Joho to Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.
Savula has now urged Gen Z to pressure MPs to conduct proper vetting of the Cabinet Secretary nominees.
“If our lawmakers fail Kenyans, we will not hesitate to lead youths in storming the Parliament building again because we want good governance and leaders who can deliver and serve Kenyans,” he said.
Mumias East MP Peter Salasya opposed calls for a national dialogue between the opposition and government, saying President Ruto does not need a dialogue to implement demands being raised by Kenyans.
“We have had dialogue since 2007 after the post-election violence, another in 2017 after the handshake that resulted in the failed BBI, and last year we held another dialogue at Bomas of Kenya which birthed the NADCO report that has never been implemented. The report addressed the issue of the cost of living, yet MPs passed the Finance Bill 2023 that included a controversial housing levy,” Salasya said.
“As a youthful leader, I see dialogue as useless and a waste of time because in Kenya, it has become an avenue for positions and conman-ship. If you cannot take action, then you have no other option but to resign and leave office, or the people will remove you,” he added.
Mayoni Ward MCA Fredrick Watitwa, urged President Ruto to be cautious if he intends to have a dialogue with the opposition.
He advised the President to listen to the people rather than leaders with personal interests.
