President William Ruto's aggressive push to poach more Azimio-allied politicians has rattled the opposition, threatening to cripple oversight.
The opposition is now accusing President Ruto of double speak on his promise to create an enabling environment for a vibrant opposition to keep his government in check.
Ruto has over the last few months held meetings with politicians from parties allied to the Azimio coalition including his former Jubilee outfit, sending the opposition into a panic.
Ruto has moved to woo Jubilee MPs from both Mt Kenya and other parts of the country, signaling his frenetic efforts to consolidate his administration despite promising to empower the opposition.
The move to poach Jubilee MPs has exposed veteran opposition Raila Odinga and could deflate his planned resistance against the Kenya Kwanza government.
This is because without Jubilee Raila will not have a footprint in Mt Kenya and other crucial areas like Nairobi will neutralise his campaigns.
The President has also held talks with governors allied to the opposition whom have vowed to work closely with the national government for the sake of 'development' in their regions.
Some governor has already defied Raila's calls for mass action saying that would hurt their development agenda.
The move has jolted Azimio given that Azimio governors have previously been the biggest grassroots mobilisers and supporters of anti-government campaigns.
Governors have massive resources and political networks at their disposal, proving to be powerful pillars of opposition progammes at the grassroots.
Exposing the missing link by governors in Azimio's new anti-government campaigns, observers say Raila's rally at Kamukunji on Monday was not well mobilised.
Raila is also planning to hold another rally at Nairobi's Jakaranda grounds on Sunday as he steps up his resistance against President Ruto's administration.
Political analyst Alex Nyamboga said the President's aggressive approach to win over Azimio politicians could hurt oversight and help him consolidate government.
“Partly it will jolt the opposition game plan to successfully oversight government and put Ruto under pressure as they would have wanted,” he said.
The university don also said the President's double speak has been exposed because he is busy crippling the opposition by taking away foot soldiers while affirming to empowering oversight.
'The President is very calculated and is taking advantage of the disorganisation in Azimio to weaken the opposition,” he said.
The President has previously vowed to ensure that the opposition's oversight role is well supported by the government and has even proposed to create the office of the leader of the official opposition.
“I understand that in a democratic country, people controlled by power are very easy, therefore, there is a need for a vibrant opposition,” said the President.
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi admitted that Ruto has gone flat out to try to deflate the opposition but noted that Azimio's oversight role is undeterred.
“Even if eventually, we remain 50, 20, five or one, we will remain committed to the course and true to the oath of office we took,” Wandayi said.
“Let those politicians who are poached follow their conscience. Our checks and balances of the government will continue uninterrupted."
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua said they are not bothered by the strategy adopted by the President but they are determined to execute their oversight role.
“We shall hold the feet of those responsible for feeding Kenyans on fire until something gives; until the suffering of our people is minimised to acceptable levels,” Wambua said.
The President has held talks with Jubilee MPs, most of whom campaigned against him in the last elections as he moved to deflate Raila's Azimio.
He met MPs Sabina Chege(nominated), MP Kanini Kega(Jubilee director of elections), David Kiaraho (Ol Kalou), Irene Njoki (Bahati), Zachary Kwenya (Kinangop) and Shadrack Mwiti (South Imenti),.
Others were Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Amos Mwago (Starehe), Dan Karitho (Igembe Central), Stanley Muthama (Lamu West) and Joseph Githuku (Lamu) .
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday also met Jubilee MCAs from the Nairobi county Assembly, a crucial number that has given Azimio majority status.
The President, whose UDA party was dwarfed by Azimio in Nairobi, is seeking to parry away Raila's threats in Nairobi.
The president is also touring the country for meetings couched as thanksgiving sessions as he seeks to interact with the grassroots to deflate Raila.
Ruto's decision to give his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, a key Azimio pillar, a regional peace role, has jolted Azimio.
The former president is concentrating on his peace efforts in DRC and Ethiopia and has never made an appearance at Azimio events.
