Raila: Don’t write me off yet, Azimio remains strong

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has allayed fears that his Azimio La Umoja One Kenya alliance is dead, promising that he will make a major announcement in the coming days.



In what will keep many guessing on his next move, Odinga said Friday that “the alliance is strong, alive and kicking”, dismissing critics who have predicted its death after several governors were seen lately coalescing around President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government.



“Working with the National government does not mean that the governor is defecting to UDA or Kenya Kwisha (actual name is Kenya Kwanza). The Governor ought to work with the national government,” Odinga said Friday from Mombasa where he was accompanied by local leaders, among them Abduswamad Nassir-the coastal city Governor elected on an Orange Democratic Movement ticket.



According to Odinga who lost the August 2022 election to Ruto, his Opposition remains strong across the country and he has promised to make a major statement soon. Odinga unsuccessfully challenged Ruto’s win at the Supreme Court where his evidence that the poll was rigged was dismissed as “hot air.”



“Azimio is not dead. It is strong and it is here to stay,” he said, “tell those saying the Opposition is dead that they are daydreaming.”



He dismissed talk that the Opposition was being weakened whenever Governors opted to work with the national government.



“When you see Abdulswamad go to StateHouse, it’s because he has been given permission by the party leader to do so,”he added.



Five Azimio governors have pledged to support President Ruto among them Kakamega’s Fernandez Barasa, Vihiga’s Wilber Ottichilo, Kisii’s Simba Arati, Mombasa’s Abdulswamad and Trans Nzoia’s George Natembeya.



“A governor attending the President’s meeting doesn’t mean that he has defected. I want the media to understand this and therefore, that notion should stop immediately! Azimio is not splitting,” Odinga noted.



Since taking over office, President Ruto has kept the Opposition on the chessboard, with guns trained on Western Kenya which was once Odinga’s political bastion.



Raila’s accelerated political activities have sent strong indications that he is keen on another stab on the presidency, having lost in five past elections.



On the other hand, Odinga has lost significant ground even in his own Nyanza region, the coast in what is partly blamed on his humiliating defeat despite having had strong backing and endorsement from then-incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta who had fallen out with his Deputy Ruto of 10 years.



CAPITAL NEWS