President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner Raila Odinga on Saturday will officially launch Azimio as a coalition party and unveil its structures.
President Kenyatta will play a central role as patron.
The Star has established the coalition strategists have proposed a lean structure in which Raila and Uhuru's key associates will assume major positions.
In the proposed lineup, President Kenyatta will be named patron of the coalition party while Raila will be the party leader and presidential flagbearer.
Under the duo, the positions of chairman and four vice chairmen (or women) will be dished out to take care of regional balance.
The Star has also learnt a new powerful organ, the National Coordination Council, will consist of the secretaries general of all the Azimo parties.
It will superintend the day-to-day running of Azimio Coalition Party.
Raila’s presidential campaigns board chairman Governor Ndiritu Muriithi of Laikipia on Thursday told the Star an interim office will also be presented to run the affairs of the outfit.
“We will probably get to that (party structure), yes, but frankly the main agenda is launching the coalition party and unveiling the flagbearer,” Nderitu said on the phone.
“At the minimum, you can expect an interim committee that will move things forward. Maybe a coalition coordination council.”
Azimio — a giant political machine comprised of more than 15 political parties — will be registered as a political party.
Nderitu also revealed that the Azimio colours and slogan will be approved during the Saturday meeting.
“You also can expect procedural things like adopting the colours, symbol, things of that kind are necessary.”
Raila has been using royal blue, orange and white during Azimio rallies while the lectern has been having a big orange-coloured 'R' against a royal blue background.
Dennis Osaringo, press secretary for Raila's campaign secretariat, told the Star there will be a signing ceremony by all Azimio parties during the delegates meeting.
“There will be signing of commitments that day, there is a provision for the signing ceremony,” Onsarigo said.
The revelations come at a time of heightened last-minute rush to woo Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka into Azimio La Umoja. Kalonzo wants to be president and said Raila agreed in a secret memo. But that's in the past.
Several sources close to the two leaders told the Star that Kalonzo and Raila had a morning meeting on Thursday in Karen as part of the effort to end the stalemate.
A source told the Star that the duo's meeting is part of the broader efforts to have the former Vice President team up with his former Nasa principal. They would make a formidable force to face Deputy President William Ruto.
“They met at a neutral place, not at Raila or Kalonzo’s place. The venue was neutral. That is all I can say,” the highly placed source aware of the ongoing talks said.
If the talks pass a certain threshold and there is an indication a desired outcome will be reached, then it is possible that you will see my Wiper party leader attending the Azimio meeting
When the Star contacted Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, a close Kalonzo confidant, he did not deny or confirm the Thursday morning meeting.
Wambua, however, confirmed the talks are progressing well, alluding with confidence to a truce before the Azimio launch.
“Maybe the meeting happened. I don’t know. That is at another level. I am not saying the meeting did not happen. I am just saying I am not aware,” Wambua told the Star.
“Well, talks are still going on. We are hoping that there will be truce in the shortest time possible so people can start to engage the next gear.”
“If the talks pass a certain threshold and there is an indication a desired outcome will be reached, then it is possible that you will see my Wiper party leader attending the Azimio meeting.”
Ndiritu, while avoiding to be drawn into the Kalonzo matter, said it is important that parties who are ready to forge ahead.
“I will not wish to comment because I am not involved but the reality is that partners who are ready can begin organising ourselves. Of course, we would prefer that everybody is on board,” he said.
On Thursday, preparations were ongoing for the launch of the behemoth political machine that will propel Raila’s fifth State House bid.
Delegates from at least 10 political parties are expected to attend the conference at Kenyatta International convention Centre. President Kenyatta is expected.
Each of more than 10 parties will send 10 delegates to the conference.
“Each political party in Azimio will only be allowed 20 delegates. The ceremony is simply one for signing of the coalition agreement and not a convention in the style of an NDC,” a communication from ODM to its county chairpersons read.
From KICC, the leaders are expected to march in a convoy to Jacaranda grounds in Embakasi East constituency where they will address their first mega rally.
It was not clear, however, whether the President, who was recently retained as Jubilee Party leader, will attend the Jacaranda rally alongside the Azimio party leaders.
Some of the parties that have expressed interest in working with Raila’s Azimio include Jubilee, Party of National Unity, Ubuntu, Maendeleo Chap Chap, Upya Movement, Democratic Action Party of Kenya, Narc, Nopeu and Pamoja African Alliance.
Others are the Kenya Union Party, United Democratic Movement, Devolution Empowerment Party and Muungano Party among others.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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