In unprecedented yet strategic political move, Ruto on Wednesday named key ODM leaders into his team, dealing a blow to the opposition's unity efforts.
The deal follows sustained mass anti-government protests that triggered mass sacking in the Cabinet.
The development has left the opposition coalition in tatters with observers claiming it is just a matter of time before it becomes part of the country’s statistics of collapsed political marriages.
There are signals that the coalition is as good as dead and major political realignments are set to be witnessed in the coming weeks.
A section of the coalition leaders, led by Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka, have maintained they will not join Ruto’s broad-based government.
Some of the Azimio parties coalescing around Kalonzo include retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee, Eugene Wamalwa’s DAP-K and Martha Karua’s Narc Kenya.
The deal has also caused cracks in ODM, with a number of party stalwarts led by James Orengo and Babu Owino publicly rebelling.
In a clear sign that things had fallen apart, Raila’s known ODM allieshave described the Wednesday events as the end of political marriage with Azimio.
Mathare MP Antony Oluoch told the Star that the body language in the coalition indicates divorce.
“ODM is in government of William Ruto, that is the truth. Azimio have been with us in two elections cycles in different names and we don’t take for granted their support to Raila in past elections,” Oluoch said.
“But every journey must have an end, coalitions are crafted to win power. I am afraid to say that this is the end of the road for Azimio.”
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita also concurred that the deal between Ruto and Raila is the final blow on Azimio. “The reality is that Azimio is dead,” he said.
This even as the Kalonzo camp maintained that the exit of ODM will not derail their march to put the government on toes.
On Tuesday, Wiper members in Parliament maintained they will stay put in Azimio and not be swayed into the all-inclusive government.
Led by Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, the MPs numbering seven insisted that the coalition will remain intact
“Those who want to join the Cabinet are free to do so, we will remain in Azimio even if any member decides to leave,” he said.
“Azimio is intact and we know people are working very hard to cause division within Azimio and bring unprecedented moves,” Matungulu MP Stephen Mule added.
In a cryptic message on her X account, Karua distanced herself from Raila's move, indicating that she is still in the opposition.
“Part of the opposition,” she responded to an X user who had claimed the opposition has been swallowed.
The Wednesday deal was preceded by confusion in the Orange party, with top officials publicly contradicting each other, signalling big split in the nineteen-year political outfit.
Secretary general Edwin Sifuna distanced the party from any political arrangements with Kenya Kwanza, warning that anyone who joins Ruto’s cabinet is on his own.
“As a party, we wish to make it unequivocally clear that we are not in negotiations with the Ruto regime for any coalition or political arrangement,” he said in a statement.
“Any ODM member who makes themselves available to join the Kenya Kwanza government or any other position should know that they do so without the blessing or support of the party.”
He was, however, contradicted by a section of Raila men who accused the Nairobi senator of misleading the public.
Kaluma said the statement contradicted the resolutions of the ODM central management committee, as well as the parliamentary group meeting.
“Let me send a warning. We want to tell people sending conflicting positions from ODM to remember that they are on interim [basis] in those positions. We can remove them if we resolve a position and then they contradict it,” Kaluma said on the floor of the House.
The lawmaker even threatened to push for Sifuna’s removal for misrepresenting party’s position.
On Thursday, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi MP Babu Owino continued their onslaught against the idea of forming a unity government, confirming that all is not well in ODM.
Orengo, who is a high ranking member of the party, said joining government flies in the face of the principles of the constitution.
“Taking CS (Cabinet Secretary) position in the name of ODM betrays the principles of the Constitution and the progressive movement which the party represents,” he said.
“It is absolute treachery and act of political cannibalism. Even hyenas are not as thirsty to eat the dead.”
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita has however faulted the Siaya county chief for failing to offer an alternative for the party.
“If we don’t join the government as Orengo is suggesting he should be ready to give us the alternative,” Nyamita said.
Babu has also pledged to continue leading the opposition, insisting that he will not be party to the new working arrangement with the government.
“I remain steadfast to stand with the people of Kenya. Those who have left opposition to join government, bye, aluta continua,” he said.
The youthful politician has been consistent with his opposition to any engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration, which he blames for the high cost of living and runaway corruption.
President Ruto on Wednesday nominated ODM chairman John Mbadi, a key Raila ally, as the next National Treasury and Economic Planning CS.
Mbadi is now set to be the first ever holder of that powerful office from Luo Nyanza.
Raila’s two ODM deputies — Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho — were also tapped into the new Cabinet
Oparanya, the first governor of Kakamega, has been nominated as CS for Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises while Joho, the immediate former Mombasa governor, will take over Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.
National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi was nominated CS for Energy and Petroleum.
All the four nominees were recommended to Ruto by Raila, against strong opposition from the Azimio battalion.
