- Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party comprises 26 political parties.
- The coalition's governing body is the Coalition Council and the National Coalition Executive Council.
Image: FREDRICK OMONDI
Allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have dominated the leadership of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party.
A gazette notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu on Thursday shows the membership of the governing body is dominated by confidants of the two leaders.
The governing body is the Coalition Council and the National Coalition Executive Council.
The notice to the public of the registration said the coalition comprises 26 political parties.
The notice named Uhuru as the chairperson of the Coalition Council and Raila the party leader and Coalition Council member.
Other members of the Coalition Council are Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Charity Ngilu (Kitui).
Others are Murang'a Women Representative Sabina Chege, MPs Naomi Shaban (Taveta), Junet Mohamed (Suna East), Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, DAP- K leader Wafula Wamunyiyi and Abdi Noor Omar Farah.
Gideon, Chege and Wamunyinyi are allies of the President while Joho, Mohamed, Ngilu and Karua, are associated with Raila.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who is Raila’s deputy in ODM, is the chairperson of the National Coalition Executive Committee.
Oparanya has three deputies; Eldas MP Adnan Keynan, lawyer Ken Nyaundi and Jubilee Party vice chairperson David Murathe.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua will serve as the NEC treasurer.
Wambua, an ally of Kalonzo, will be deputised by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, Lucy Nyoroka Mworia and Likoni MP Mishi Mboko.
Samburu West legislator Naisula Lesuuda will serve as the Organising Secretary and will be assisted by Senator Abdul Haji and Maoka Maore.
Suna East MP will also sit in the executive council as secretary general and will have three deputies; Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi and Isabelle Wangechi Githinji.
Special interest groups will be represented by Caroline Wanjiru Karugu (Women's League chairperson), Rose Museo Mumo (People with Disabilities League chairperson), Solomon Kuria (chairperson, Youth League).
Raphael Tuju is the council's executive director.
Murathe, Maore, Karugu, Lesuuda, Tuju and Keynan are close allies of Uhuru while Mboko and Wandayi are Raila’s associates.
The formation deposited contents of the alliance agreement in Nderitu’s office on April 1.
The coalition's symbol will be five stars against a blue background in the midst of the words, Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party.
Its party slogan is “Inawezekana” and the colours are blue, orange and white.
The gazette notice was published a day after four affiliate parties which are members of the One Kenya Alliance called for a halt of the registration, citing unresolved issues.
The matters were reportedly addressed by the Coalition Party Secretariat.
The wing, led by Kalonzo, Gideon, Cyrus Jirongo (United Democratic Party) and David Ochieng (Movement for Democracy and Growth party), demanded that certain issues had to be addressed before registration process is finalised.
The four had said three issues had not been agreed upon and demanded the matters be resolved before outfit is registered.
There were reports that the wing was demanding the position of running mate be reserved for them.
Tuju said “those were wedge issues” and they were going to discuss them and agree and then issue a statement.
(edited by Amol Awuor)