In a significant political shift, Narc Kenya has formally announced its exit from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
The decision, outlined in a letter dated July 25, 2024, from Acting Secretary General Asha Bashir to Junet Mohammed, Secretary General of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Secretariat, signals a response to the changing political landscape.
The letter succinctly explains the rationale behind the departure.
“Kindly take note that our stay in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition is not tenable due to the prevailing political developments. 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,” the letter read.
Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua also posted the letter on her account on X, formerly Twitter, underscoring the party’s firm stance.
The decision by Narc Kenya to leave Azimio comes even as Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Thursday, July 25, 2024, dismissed cracks within the political outfit.
During a press conference on Thursday, July 25, 2024, Musyoka addressed speculations that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party was leaving the coalition after President William Ruto nominated four of its members to his cabinet.
Kalonzo stated that the ODM party had not indicated any intention to leave the Azimio coalition despite its members engaging with the government.
“The coalition as of today has not received an indication or a notice to give effect that ODM will be pulling out of the coalition. If that happens, we will deal with that at that time,” he clarified.
Reading Azimio’s statement on the current political situation, where ODM has sought dalliance with the government, Jubilee party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni allayed fears of divisions.
He affirmed that ODM party leader Raila Odinga was still Azimio’s leader even though the coalition does not support the nomination of its members to Ruto’s cabinet.
The Azimio faction condemned the nomination of ODM members to Ruto’s cabinet, calling it an attempt to weaken the opposition.
“As Azimio, we note that Ruto has nominated the top leadership of one of our constituent parties ODM to his cabinet. With this move, he has attempted to destroy multiparty democracy and seized control of the parliamentary system,” Jeremiah Kioni stated.
Kioni went on to accuse President Ruto of silencing opposition voices and undermining Kenya’s democratic framework.
“Ruto’s continued cannibalization of political parties, as he has done with Jubilee and now with ODM, goes against the letter and spirit of the constitution of Kenya. It also offends the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report. We believe that Ruto is an existential threat to our democracy and must be resisted even as we say ‘Ruto must go’,” he added.
The unfolding political dynamics in Kenya signal a period of significant realignment and heightened tensions as the nation approaches critical political milestones.
