Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to resign as the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Chairman
Jubilee party vice chair David Murathe in an interview with the Nation revealed that the Azimio council will soon convene a meeting and ratify his exit.
The former president's resignation is billed as a move to allow him to focus on the peace initiative he is spearheading in the East African region.
“We will be having a meeting very soon where he will formally resign as the chairman of the Azimio council. Obviously, you cannot have two drivers steering a bus. This vehicle called Azimio now has one driver and that driver is Jakom (Mr Odinga),” Murathe said.
According to Murathe, Uhuru will now leave the mantle to Raila and Azimio systems.
“He is now above local politics. Going forward, everything is Jakom and the Azimio system. The council will sit and make a decision about who takes up the position but the overall leader of Azimio is now Jakom and there is no ambiguity about it,” Murathe said.
Legally, Kenyatta will also be required to quit active politics and resign as Azimio la Umoja council chairman to enjoy all benefits that come with being a former head of state.
The law makes it mandatory that a retired Head of State cannot hold office in any political party for more than six months after ceasing to hold office as President.
This means Uhuru's exit as Azimio chairman and active engagement in opposition politics is long overdue.
The move is likely to be a big blow to Raila Odinga's camp, coming at a time when Uhuru's Mt Kenya troops seem to be shifting their allegiance to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
It will also render many within Jubilee political orphans as the former President will also exit as party leader.
Unconfirmed sources said the government has formally written to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to inquire whether Uhuru is still the Azimio chairman.
