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A senior member of the coalition told the Star on Friday that there could have been signals of betrayal.
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"Some of these leaders have been caught flatfooted because there cannot be any justification as to why nobody was there to lead the protests," the politician said.
Image: ODM/TWITTER
Confusion has rocked Azimio La Umoja over unconfirmed reports that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has been put under house arrest.
This as it emerged that the coalition's leaders might not be reading from the same script following the lack of leadership in the ongoing protests.
The Star understands that there is simmering friction within the camp amid a vicious blame game over the failure of big guns to turn up for protests.
The coalition's leader Raila Odinga has previously been leading opposition demonstrations from the frontline until he went under the weather.
Raila confirmed on Tuesday that he did not come out to lead the demonstrations because he had a terrible flu, raising concerns about why the rest failed to step in.
He was last seen in public on July 12 when he led opposition leaders in a press conference to protest the killing of at least eight protesters in various parts of the country.
Other members of the ODM top brass include Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Roots party leader George Wajackoya, ex-Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wairia and DAP-K boss Eugene Wamalwa.
It was expected that the rest of the team members were to lead from the front during the three-day protests.
Only Orange Democratic Movement party secretary general Edwin Sifuna appeared in Kibra during the protests.
Kalonzo had last week participated in protests in Ukambani region where he condemned the police for using excessive force against protesters.
He also appeared at a joint briefing with Karua on Tuesday evening ahead of the three-day protests.
A senior member of the coalition told the Star on Friday that there could have been signals of betrayal owing to the failure of key leaders to lead the protests in Raila's absence.
"Some of these leaders have been caught flatfooted because there cannot be any justification at all as to why nobody was there to lead the protests in Raila's absence," the politician said.
"I can't blame a woman for that, I am an African and in our culture, women are not supposed to be generals but some people have been found wanting."
On Friday, hours after Raila defended his absence from the protests citing ill health, Kalonzo's communications officer Paloma Gatabaki twitted that he was under house arrest.
"Yes, it is true that Kalonzo Musyoka has been under house arrest since Tuesday evening. The Subarus and land rovers have been stationed outside his Karen residence preventing him from leaving," Gatabaki said in a tweet.
Kalonzo immediately retweeted the information through his verified account moments after reports swirled that a group of Western envoys had visited him at his Karen residence.
There were reports that Raila dispatched Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi and embattled Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni to Kalonzo's residence on Friday to confirm the house arrest claims.
Lifting the lid on what could be growing tensions triggered by the house arrest and envoy talks claims, Raila was forced to send out a message.
The ODM boss dismissed claims that he held a meeting with envoys at Kalonzo's residence on Friday morning.
He said he has been nursing a strong flu and he is keeping off any public engagements and meetings.
"I have therefore held no meeting with any envoys as reported by some media outlets," he said.