Editor's Review

Claims of a rift in Azimio la Umoja escalated after Prof Makau Mutua dared members discontented with the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report to leave.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has rubbished claims of leaving the Azimio la Umoja Coalition due to distrust among members and affiliate parties.

In a statement dated Thursday night December 14, ODM which is led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, insisted that Azimio was still intact.

The Orange Movement blamed the spread of misleading information to political distractors pushing for Azimio's disintegration before the 2027 polls.

While calling out the spread of fake news, ODM flagged a fake notice which had been shared widely on various social media platforms.

File photo of Azimio leaders led by Raila Odinga addressing the press. PHOTO | COURTESY

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"Take notice that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party meeting on 13th December 2023 resolved to withdraw from the Deed Agreement for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition following instances of distrust, betrayal and competing ambitions from fellow coalition members," the fake notice read in part.

"Further take notice that pursuant to article 10.8 of the party constitution as read together with article 22.1 of the Deed of Agreement for Azimio la Umoja Movement One Kenya dated 12th March 2022, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party hereby serves notice to withdraw from the Deed of Agreement for Azimio One Kenya Coalition," it further claimed.

Claims of a rift in Azimio la Umoja escalated after Prof Makau Mutua dared members discontented with the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report to leave.

“Azimio isn’t a forced marriage. Please leave if you can’t support the NADCO report which is the product of the party’s agreed democratic processes,” Makau stated.

This came in response to Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa who voiced dissatisfaction over the findings.

Karua argued that the NADCO report lacked substance to alleviate citizens' suffering and accused it of favoring leadership over the people.

“While concluding in the NADCO Report, we have to say, it has nothing to alleviate the suffering of citizens but it offers goodies to the leadership. This is totally unacceptable. It is a fraud upon Kenyans. It should be frowned upon and rejected. It is a distracting national smokescreen,” Karua said.

Eugene on his side noted that the issue of cost of living was knocked off the report despite featuring widely in the dialogue.

Raila is yet to give a substantive statement on the report. However President William Ruto vowed to implement the report recommendations.