The Azimio Council on Friday approved elimination of weak coalition candidates in the August 9 general election.
The decision is part of the coalition's strategy to bag most of the seats countrywide and control both houses of Parliament and the Council of Governors.
The decision was reached at a meeting chaired by Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre to discuss poll preparations.
“The council discussed and approved a strategy to synergise the strength brought by each party to the coalition by rationalising and harmonising candidates in all elective positions. It mandated each constituent party to implement the strategy,” a statement released after the meeting said.
The eliminations seek to avoid splitting the vote and giving Kenya Kwanza adversaries the upper hand.
The council meeting was attended by Martha Karua (deputy party leader and deputy president-designate) and council members Kalonzo Musyoka, Gideon Moi, Sabina Chege, Wafula Wamunyinyi, Naomi Shaban, Charity Ngilu, Abdinoor Farah and Junet Mohamed (party secretary general).
Azimio chairman President Uhuru Kenyatta and council member Hassan Joho did not attend the meeting. Uhuru was in Kigali, Rwanda, for the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The meeting also called on Azimio supporters and all Kenyans to engage in peaceful campaigns “characterised by respect for dissent and the views of others".
The council said this was the only way to ensure a stable post-election economic environment essential for a united, inclusive, fair and prosperous nation.
The council further directed the National Coalition Executive Committee and the Presidential Campaign Secretariat to interrogate the 2022 voters register and report back to by June 28.
The meeting expressed satisfaction with the party’s strategy, saying it is on course to ensure “victory for the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate with over 15,000,000 votes".
The coalition brings together more than 20 parties, including ODM, Jubilee, Wiper, PNU, Narc Kenya, Ubuntu People’s Forum and the Devolution Empowerment Party.
The formation has fielded several candidates eying the same seats in many contests.
In Kajiado for example, the contest involves two members of the coalition: incumbent Joseph ole Lenku (ODM) and former Governor David Nkedianye (Jubilee) and UDA’s Katoo ole Metito.
In Vihiga, Governor Wilber Ottichilo (ODM) and Senator George Khaniri (UDP), both of Azimio, are facing each other. Former Governor Moses Akaranga, who is backing Raila, also wants the seat.
The Kenya Kwanza Alliance has fielded Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi contesting on an ANC ticket.
In Machakos, CCU governor candidate Nzioka Waita is facing former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti of Wiper.
The Azimio leadership fears the two could split the coalition’s votes to the advantage UDA’s candidate Johnson Muthama.
In Busia, former Cabinet minister Paul Otuoma of ODM is pitted against Moses Mulomi of DAP-K, both under Azimio.
The two are facing Nambale MP John Bunyasi of AMC, an affiliate of Kenya Kwanza.
In Kirinyaga, Karua’s Narc Kenya has fielded Muriithi Kaigai for governor against Senator Charles Kabiru of Jubilee.
In Kisii, Dagoretti MP Simba Arati (ODM), Sam Ongeri (DAP-K) and Chris Obure (Jubilee) are in the race. They are facing Nyaribari Masaba MP Ezekiel Machogu (UDA).
An example that has been given by many analysts of how sibling rivalry can cost a coalition victory was the way Nixon Korir won the Langata seat.
The victory was attributed to the decision by the defunct Nasa parties to field candidates.
Korir won the seat with 41,086 votes, beating ODM’s Oscar Omoke who garnered 39,593 votes. Also in the contest was Judith Sijeny (Wiper), Kiprotich Tunoi (Chama Cha Mashinani), Daniel Odera (Ford Kenya) and William Kipkemboi (ANC), all of whom were Nasa backers.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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