A meeting of principals of Azimio constituent parties on Wednesday at the SKM Command Centre in Karen has elicited reactions online with a section of Kenyans lauding the show of unity.
In a photo shared on X by the ODM party, the meeting was attended by Raila Odinga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kanu’s Gideon Moi, Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni and Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya.
Siaya Governor James Orengo was also in attendance but Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua and her DAP–K counterpart Eugene Wamalwa were conspicuously missing in action.
"We met today in pursuit of the national conversation agenda," Raila said later on X.
Whilst details of the agenda remain unknown as at now, some users on X were quick to commend the leaders for remaining united amid alleged cracks in the coalition sparked off by ministerial nominations.
“Very nice. The broad-based government is the only way to go,” one said.
While some said Kenya needs new faces in politics, another added: “Very nice broad-based government.”
“Tell them all to join the broad-based government,” added another user is a message seemingly directed at Raila.
Raila accepted President William Ruto’s request to have four of his most vocal lieutenants nominated into cabinet to form what the President termed as a broad-based government whose aim is to unite Kenyans.
Under the arrangement, former governors Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya; minority leader Opiyo Wandayi and nominated MP John Mbadi were all handed ministerial portfolios and are awaiting vetting and probable approval for appointment by Parliament.
Raila said on Saturday he accepted to let them go because Ruto was in urgent need to reconstitute the cabinet and would address any outstanding issues later.
“We said if you want to take some of our experts and get into your government we release them to join your government but they work in accordance with the ethics of our party ODM and Azimio,” Raila said.
Ruto on Wednesday nominated Mbadi the National Treasury CS, Wandayi Energy and Petroleum CS, Hassan Joho Mining and Blue Economy and named Oparanya to the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with Mombasa residents on Sunday, Ruto said he deemed it fit to include people from the political divide in order to have a government with the face of the country.
He said he approached a number of leaders to come on board but some declined "and that's their democratic right".
However, Raila’s support for the broad-based government and subsequent nomination of his most vocal allies in the new-look cabinet raffled features in the Opposition Azimio with Narc Kenya leader Martha almost immediately issuing notice to exit the coalition.
“Our stay in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance is no longer tenable,” Karua said on X on July 25.
“As Narc Kenya by way of this letter, we are giving notice to exit the Coalition as stipulated in the exit clause (s) in the Coalition Agreement. This notice is effective from the date of this letter,” Karua said in the notice addressed to coalition secretary-general Junet Mohammed by Narc Kenya acting secretary-general Asha Bashir.
Two days later on July 27, Karua clarified that she wasn’t interested in the Attorney General’s post which was until Tuesday morning without a nominee prior to Dorcas Oduor’s nomination.
"Thanks not interested," Karua said in reaction to an endorsement by a social media user who said she fits the bill to hold the AG’s office.
Besides Karua, Kalonzo has also maintained a hardline stance over the prospects of joining the Kenya Kwanza government.
Speaking on Sunday during a church service in Mwingi North, Kalonzo directed Wiper MPs to reject the ODM nominees during vetting.
"I have directed the Wiper Party MPs that those four names when they come to Parliament for vetting, Wiper members should vote ‘No’," Kalonzo said.
As a co-principal in the Azimio coalition, Kalonzo said he was neither aware nor consulted on the nominations.
The Wiper party leader said that he will stand with Gen Z and what they are fighting for.
"We are in a very trying moment as a country and therefore I believe myself that I will stick to the opposition. This is the time," Kalonzo said.
On July 29, Munya also ruled out the possibility of following in Raila’s footsteps and wished the ODM leader well in government.
“But they must make a decision to move completely in government or stay in the opposition but they can’t be in two places at the same time. The government requires to be checked, one way of making sure that the government performs is by having a strong opposition that keeps the government on its toes.”
The PNU party leader said it’s impossible to keep the government in check when sharing the same table with it.
His DAP–K counterpart Eugene Wamalwa has also been categorical about not ever wanting to be part of the Kenya Kwanza government.
While reacting to UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala’s remarks that the country is now united and “no more shall we discuss Luhya unity” [because] “all our leaders are now united under President Ruto”, Wamalwa said:
“Not all, as you are uniting to perpetuate the ignoble Ruto regime until 2032, we are uniting with the majority of Kenyans who are saying on or before August 10, 2027.