Aspirants defiant as Azimio Council seeks pruning

Tens of candidates are expected to face the axe this week as the coalitions' top decision-making organ on Tuesday approves a list of aspirants who will be shown the door.

This pruning is aimed at taming sibling rivalry to enhance the chances of Azimio defeating Deputy President William Ruto's UDA candidates across the country.

The Star has established the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Council had commissioned opinion polls by multiple firms to guide the process.

The roll out of the selection will ultimately ruin the political ambitions of some high-flying politicians.

The council is targeting perceived weaker candidates in Western Kenya, Nyanza, Nairobi, Kajiado and some counties in Mt Kenya region.

The strategy is aimed at avoiding splitting the vote and handing Ruto and Kenya Kwanza an advantage.

Already, there are concerns in some areas that local matrices such as clanism may pose a threat to Azimio's preferred candidates.

Azimio officials have insisted consensus will be built among aspirants based on opinion poll results released to them on Tuesday, as defiant ones will face the wrath of the coalition.

On Monday, Azimio Coalition executive director Raphael Tuju downplayed jitters that some candidates will be forced out, emphasising the process will be voluntary and based on logic.

He said the council meet on Tuesday, the second session in fewer than five days, to deliberate on the mechanism to “shed weaker candidates".

“The council will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) morning to deliberate on these things…it is voluntary. Nobody can be forced out once IEBC makes you a candidate,” Tuju told the Star.

He went on, “It is not as controversial or confrontational as people think it will be...we have a technical team working on the list and we will share all the information we have very transparently with the candidates.”

Last Friday, a council meeting chaired by Azimio party leader and presidential candidate Raila Odinga mandated the executive committee to roll out the strategy. He ordered pollsters deployed to gauge candidates' popularity.

Despite the assurances, information gleaned from interviews with candidates from some of the affected counties painted a picture of defiance and determination, precipitating a stand-off with the council.

In Kisii county, where at least three candidates allied to Azimio are locking horns against the UDA candidate, there is growing anxiety ahead of what is feared will be a purge.

While ODM has fielded Simba Arati, Jubilee is backing Chris Obure and DAP-K is endorsing Sam Ongeri.

Ruto’s UDA party has rallied behind Nyaribari Masaba MP Ezekiel Machogu as it seeks to spoil the party for ODM in one of its main stronghold counties.

Most of the candidates refused to go on record as that would jeopardise their chances in the coalition ahead of the decision expected to shatter political dreams.

“I have spent millions of shillings on campaigns; I have an agenda that I am selling to the electorate, it would be totally unfair for Azimio to impose on the people their preferred choice. Let the people decide," a candidate from the region said.

In the neighbouring Nyamira county, where the axe is expected to fall on at least three candidates, there is anxiety as candidates ramp up their campaigns.

At least four Azimio-affiliated candidates are running for governor, including incumbent Amos Nyaribo (UPA), Timothy Bosire (ODM), Ben Momanyi (Wiper) and Mwancha Okioma of Jubilee.

DAP-K secretary general Eseli Simiyu on Monday emphasised that any talks among affiliate parties must be mutual and well-thought-out to ensure majority seats for the coalition.

“It is only reasonable we listen to each other and work out possible ways to ensure Raila wins the presidency and we have the majority in Parliament,” Simiyu said.

He went on, “So, we are open to any discussion that would enable Azimio team to have many seats in the National Assembly and the Senate.”

Raila's presidential campaigns have recently been marred by nasty clashes between rival aspirants in Azimio and analysts warn the fights could hurt the former Prime Minister's prospects.

“While tough decisions must be made, they must be cognisant of the local dynamics that may end up benefiting Ruto. Our politics is local and people vote based on clans,” another aspirant from Nyanza said.

He is considered targeted for elimination.

In Nairobi, the Jubilee Mathare candidate Kevin Bahati was adamant that he will not drop his bid on the day ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna camped in the cosmopolitan constituency and endorsed Anthony Oluoch (ODM) as the preferred coalition candidate. 

 “Dear Azimio… stop misleading the voters of Mathare. Bahati MP Mathare has not stepped down for anyone," Bahati said in a Facebook post on Monday.

In the neighbouring Embakasi North, Jane Muringi (ODM) said she has invested heavily in her campaigns, expressing unwillingness to step down for anyone. Muringi is contesting against Wangoro Mwangi of Jubilee.

“I was with Raila Odinga last week during a meeting at KICC and I wasn’t requested to drop my bid for anyone else," she said.

(Edited by V. Graham)

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