- Opposition chief Raila Odinga has maintained that the Azimio coalition is intact despite reports of a looming collapse of the political outfit.
- Speaking in Tana River where he camped on Tuesday to market his ODM party, Raila insisted that Azimio is stronger, and is currently revamping to unseat President William Ruto in 2027.
Image: RAILA ODINGA / X
Opposition chief Raila Odinga has maintained that the Azimio coalition is intact despite reports of a looming collapse of the political outfit.
Speaking in Tana River where he camped on Tuesday to market his ODM party, Raila insisted that Azimio is stronger, and is currently revamping to unseat President William Ruto in 2027.
“They are saying that Azimio is going to collapse, that people are focusing on their own parties, that there is a contention of who is going to be the presidential flagbearer of the coalition,” he said.
The ODM boss said the reports of a looming fallout in Azimio are media-propagated propaganda that will never materialise.
Raila explained that as a coalition of parties, a strong Azimio requires strengthening of the constituent parties thus his push to revamp ODM.
“Azimio is a coalition of parties. We have ODM, Wiper, Jubilee, DAP, UPYA etc. Azimio cannot be built on its own. All these parties must be strengthened for Azimio to be strong,” he said.
On Monday, the Star reported an imminent disintegration of the once gigantic coalition that nearly took over power in 2022 general election.
The latest signal of trouble in Azimio was the absence of all the Azimio principals at the memorial for Raila father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
On Saturday, Odinga's family, led by Raila, hosted leaders in Kisumu to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of their father.
Not a single Azimio principal attended.
Only Mama Margaret Kenyatta, the wife of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, attended the event.
No other Azimio principal attended.
At the centre of the split is the bipartisan report that Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua and her DAP-K counterpart Eugene Wamalwa disavowed.
Karua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka have since clashed publicly, exposing the bad blood.
But the former prime minister refuted the claims, saying the opposition was growing even stronger and bigger.
Raila stressed that Azimio has maintained its solidarity since the 2022 elections and remains committed to its mission of liberating the country from what he terms tyranny and irresponsibility.
“Our vision for liberation and responsible governance remains unwavering,” he said.
“If these people see us strengthen ODM, they say Azimio is disintegrating. Azimio is not disintegrating. Azimio is there and is even stronger,” Raila said.
The ODM boss is on a week-long charm offensive of the coastal region to revamp his outfit.
He started the town hall meetings and meet the people tours in Lamu on Monday. On Wednesday, he will camp in Kilifi.
He’s launching ODM membership registration drive in the region that has for years voted for him, but been under threat by President Ruto’s UDA.
On Tuesday, Raila received several defectors from other parties to ODM.
He was accompanied by ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya, secretary general Edwin Sifuna among other party officials.
Also present were governors; Godhana Dhadho (Tana River) and Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa).
Last week, Raila traversed Western Kenya where he launched exercises aimed at revamping the party.
Raila launched the massive membership drive in Nyanza last year. the exercise will culminate in grassroots elections in April.