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How Dialogue report has widened cracks in Azimio

Principals have clashed over the contents with some terming it underwhelming.

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by The Star

Realtime29 November 2023 - 08:54
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In Summary


  • Karua and Wamalwa have expressed reservations with the report ahead of Wednesday's PG meeting.
  • If adopted, Raila is poised to take up the position of leader of the opposition.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Azimio chief Raila Odinga attend prayers in Kitui county on October 14, 2023.

Cracks are widening in opposition chief Raila Odinga's Azimio coalition following sharp criticism from his colleagues over the contents of the Dialogue report.

The report by the Bipartisan Committee made a raft of proposals including radical legislative recommendations that would expand the composition of Parliament.

However, days after the report was released, Raila's co-principals have distanced themselves from its contents and want it rejected or amended.

The opposition to the report threatens the future of Azimio amid fears that endorsing it would go against public goodwill.

Among the Azimio luminaries who have raised objections include Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua and DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa.

Immediately after the unveiling of the report, Karua dismissed it for failing to address the cost of living.

"Any purported agreement that does not immediately impact on the cost of living, electoral justice and respect for multiparty democracy is a fraud on the people and must be rejected," Karua stated. 

Karua was Raila's running mate in last year's presidential elections but has since been drifting to a Mount Kenya caucus called Kamwene.

Wamalwa who was part of the five-man Azimio team in the committee said on Sunday that Kenyans were given a raw deal and vowed not to append his signature to the report.

“... l didn’t and will not append my signature to the NADCO report, and have not and will not accept any sitting allowance for the same because l believe we did not do justice to the single most important issue to Kenyans, i.e. the cost of living,” Wamalwa said.

The committee admitted to failing to agree on the cost of living while unveiling the final report of its deliberations.

On Tuesday, Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, who was also part of Azimio's technical team to the committee, poured cold water on the proposals.

He warned that the committee deviated from its original agenda of addressing the cost of living as the most pressing issue and instead concentrated on sharing posts.

"The discussions fell short of our expectations. Kenyans were killed not because of government positions, but due to the soaring cost of living," he said.

He spoke after a meeting with a section of leaders of the Nairobi Business Community at the Jubilee party headquarters.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta who is also the chairperson of the Azimio Council is said to have expressed reservations over the handling of the cost of living item.

The reservations expressed by key Azimio luminaries have given credence to reports of widening cracks in the coalition over the contents of the report.

There are fears that if the sharp differences are not addressed and the coalition forges common ground over the proposals, Azimio could split.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, another Azimio luminary, was the co-chair of the report alongside National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah.

He has not publicly talked about the report or expressed his reservations like other leaders.

On Wednesday, Raila Odinga will chair a crucial parliamentary group meeting for all MPs allied to his Azimio coalition.

Top Azimio luminaries will also attend the meeting at Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka's SKM centre but all eyes will be on Karua, Wamalwa and Kioni.

It is not clear if Uhuru will attend the meeting.

The session comes days after the release of the Bipartisan Talks report whose contents triggered a political storm and threatened to shudder the opposition.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo on Monday insisted the report must be amended to address the concerns of Kenyans.

“I am not happy with the report, I cannot support a report that does not lower the cost of living,” Otiende said in Kisumu.

“That is why we must amend that report once it is tabled in parliament.”

There are claims that a section of Mt Kenya leaders are unhappy that the report did not address key issues including the cost of living and taxation.

The report made radical legislative proposals to accommodate the leader of the official opposition and two deputies in Parliament.

If adopted, Raila is tipped to take up the office of the leader of the opposition with Karua and Musyoka likely to deputise him.

However, some argue that the report is ill-time at a time when the country's cost of living is soaring with most households unable to afford even a single meal.

The report also proposed that the law be amended to establish the office of the Prime Minister.

With the recommendations having triggered sharp differences within the opposition ranks, Raila will be keen for a common position when he meets his troops on Wednesday.

The report is expected to be tabled in parliament once cleared by Raila and President William Ruto.

Raila's Wednesday meeting is therefore expected to rally MPs to take a common position on the report's proposals to avert an implosion in Azimio.

Some Azimio leaders had said that Western envoys who pushed for the Bomas talks to end the political standoff in the country are keen on the report being adopted.

After President Ruto endorsed the report, all eyes are on Raila as he chairs the parliamentary group meeting.

On Sunday, Raila said he had received the report but was yet to read it and make his comments as he moved to moderate sharp criticism of the report.

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