In a dramatic shift within Kenya’s political landscape, the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), led by Eugene Wamalwa, has intensified its pressure on Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio coalition.
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has resolved that Raila should exit the coalition following his recent alignment with President William Ruto’s government.
The move comes after a crisis meeting held by DAP-K on August 16, 2024, where the party resolved to go slow on its earlier intention to leave Azimio.
DAP-K had previously threatened to quit the coalition in response to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Raila’s party, allowing four of its members to join Ruto’s Cabinet.
In a statement released following the NEC meeting on August 16, DAP-K expressed its stance unequivocally – they want Raila to pack up his belongings and leave Azimio immediately.
“On follow-up of our last NEC meeting held at Chui House Nairobi on July 17, 2024, the NEC has resolved to stand by the previous resolution and hereby authorize the party Leader to communicate to Azimio Council at the next meeting that our party DAP-K requests that those parties that have joined the government should formally exit Azimio One Kenya Coalition Party and allow the Azimio fraternity to continue in opposition,” the statement read.
DAP-K has set a clear ultimatum: should ODM fail to comply with the demand to exit the coalition, the Wamalwa-led party reserves the right to leave Azimio.
“Failure to which DAP-K and other affiliate parties shall be at liberty to exit Azimio,” the party stated.
The party underscored its commitment to opposing the government, adopting the slogan TAWE (Luhya for no) as a symbol of resistance against what it views as poor governance, tribalism, and corruption.
“We say NO to poor governance, NO to tribalism NO to corruption in our elation call of TAWE! Because DAP-K is TAWE and TAWE is DAP-K.”
Wamalwa reiterated his party’s position in a post on X, insisting on the Tawe slogan.
“Today’s @DAP_Kenya NEC meeting resolved that Our Party will remain in the Opposition and continue playing its oversight role. Whoever wishes to join the government should be at liberty to exit Azimio Coalition. Also adopted #TAWE as a Party Slogan and clarion call for good governance,” he wrote.
Azimio fallout
The rift in Azimio was first exposed when the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) released a report that DAP-K found lacking in addressing key issues, such as the high cost of living.
Tensions increased when Raila engaged in dialogue with President Ruto, leading to a new broad-based government formation that saw 4 ODM members assume key opposition roles in the Cabinet.
As Kenya’s political landscape continues to evolve, the fallout from these developments may significantly impact the dynamics within the Azimio coalition and the broader opposition movement.
