- The leaders led by DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa said they have confidence in Kalonzo's leadership.
- Wamalwa said the coalition has no doubt that Kalonzo, a lawyer and experienced diplomat, will steer the opposition outfit to greater heights.
Image: KALONZO MUSYOKA/X
Azimio co-principals have settled on Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as the new coalition leader as Raila Odinga transitions to continental leadership, where he’s seeking to be the next African Union Commission chairperson.
In a statement shortly after the official launch of Raila's candidature at State House, Nairobi, the leaders led by DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa said they have confidence in Kalonzo's leadership.
“In Azimio, there will be no vacuum. We are several constituent parties of Azimio, and we’ve been very blessed to have very serious leadership in our coalition. As he (Raila) leaves, the next ranking member of the leadership of our coalition is the Hon Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka,” the former Defence CS said.
He said Kalonzo, a former Vice President in his own right, is equal to the task and will step forward to replace the former Prime Minister as the new Azimio leader.
“We have, by consensus, and I believe many of us who are in this coalition have all consented to him taking over the leadership of our coalition. We have great faith in his leadership, he is experienced as the second highest-ranking leader in our coalition,” he said.
Wamalwa said the coalition has no doubt that Kalonzo, a lawyer and experienced diplomat, will steer the opposition outfit to greater heights.
“As Baba leaves for Addis Ababa, there will be no lack of leadership in our great coalition, in fact, we will just get stronger.”
Wamalwa said Azimio will embark on a fresh start under the new leadership with its first town hall meeting at Ufungamano House on Wednesday.
He said they will engage with Gen Z and the Kenyan youth in general, the private sector, and civil society on a wide array of issues, including defending the constitution and education.
“We will be looking at how we will be charting the way forward as a coalition to take this country to the next level as a government in waiting," he said.
Wamalwa commended Raila for the good leadership he provided to the Azimio coalition and came close to winning the 2022 presidential election.
“Ataendelea kuwa Baba,” Wamalwa said as he heaped praise on Raila.
Image: KALONZO MUSYOKA/X
Kenya officially launched Raila’s AUC candidature on Tuesday at Nairobi State House in a ceremony hosted by President William Ruto and attended by Tanzania’s Suluhu Hassan and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, among other leaders.
In a press conference shortly after the launch, Raila's co-principals held a press conference at the SK Command Centre where they saluted him for the bold step.
The team assured Kenyans that Raila’s exit to continental engagements has not left a leadership vacuum in the country’s opposition leadership.
“Just to confirm to the country that as we salute our leader Rt Hon Raila Amollo Odinga, the man we all rallied behind as we went into the last general election…we salute him and we thank him for his leadership,” Wamalwa said.
“In the Azimio la Umoja wa Kenya he has done very very well, now we release him to go to Azimio la Umoja wa Africa. He has been Kenya’s Baba and we believe he’s capable of being Africa’s Baba,” he added.
Raila is seeking to replace Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad whose tenure ends early next year.
He has so far received backing from 19 countries ahead of the February 2025 polls where he will be up against Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Youssouf, Anil Gayan (Mauritius) and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar).
A candidate needs support from 34 countries for them to clinch the seat in the first round of voting.