- Azimio had said the talks would begin on August 1 for a 30 days.
- Kenya Kwanza is set to unveil its representatives to the dialogue team.
Image: ENOS TECHE
There are growing jitters in opposition leader Raila Odinga's Azimio coalition after Mt Kenya region was reportedly isolated from its dialogue team with Kenya Kwanza.
Friction is increasingly rocking the coalition with some of the leaders allegedly protesting the exclusion of the key region that delivered slightly over 800,000 votes to Azimio.
However, they fear coming out in the open to protest the latest move that could lift the lid on the simmering tensions within the opposition coalition.
''We have raised the issue with the coalition and we expected answers as to why our vast region could not get a slot in Azimio's five-member team,'' a Mt Kenya politician allied to Azimio said.
The politico, who sought anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said 'it is appalling and baffling' of the region's exclusion.
Apart from former President Uhuru Kenyatta, some of the key Mt Kenya leaders in Azimio include Narc Kenya boss Martha Karua and embattled Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni.
Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria and ex-Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya are also other key Mt Kenya linchpins in Azimio.
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth was also a member of Azimio but has avoided all opposition issues after the 2022 elections.
It was expected that Raila would name at least one leader from the region to the negotiating panel not only for regional balance but also to have Mt Kenya's interests represented.
The Azimio team will be led by Wiper Party leader and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, a co-principal in the opposition outfit.
Also in the Azimio team are former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi, and Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni.
Tellingly, social media was abuzz with political storm as some of the Azimio bloggers claimed that Mt Kenya leaders were Kenya Kwanza moles in Azimio.
Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly Robert Alai, who was elected on Raila's ODM party ticket, claimed that Mt Kenya leaders were inconsequential in Azimio.
''ODM currently finds value in a coalition with Wiper and DAP-K. Others are donkeys we have to whip to make any impact,'' Alai, a Raila ally, tweeted.
''The others are stressing ODM with lots of funny rendezvous while in real sense, they wasted our votes, handed over power to someone they want us to call enemy but they call them "my President".
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party coalition comprises ODM, Jubilee, Wiper, Narc Kenya, DAP-K, Roots Party, Usawa kwa Wote, and KANU.
Kenya Kwanza politicians from Mt Kenya chided their Azimio colleagues claiming that their isolation confirms their long-held fears.
''Jubilee, PNU, NARC K, Usawa, And more importantly Mt Kenya has no space in Azimio! I have always told them, Ona Sasa!'' tweeted former Kieni MP Kanini Kega.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, a Raila ally, rubbished the claims that Mt Kenya had been isolated saying that the dialogue team is not a resource or positions distribution cabal.
''These are men and women to represent the coalition in the mediation talks. Where does the idea of Kikuyus being left out coming from? Let's stop the nonsense of always pitting #raila against the Kikuyus all the time,'' he tweeted.
''You have made mzee to be hated for no apparent reasons. Stop it. This is absolute gibberish. Tribalism is equal to imbecility !''