What has shaken the political sectors of the country is the fact that the Azimio la Umoja coalition is on the verge of a serious internal conflict. This comes days after several party leaders allied to Azimio met with President William Ruto, igniting political interest and questions about the coalition’s stability and existence.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the main leader of the Azimio coalition, now targets to work within a fragmented parliament. The recent meeting between some of the Azimio leaders and President Ruto has caused controversy and disgruntlement within the Azimio coalition.
Far from bringing contemplative discussions and unity as the expectations of any meeting, it appeared to have worsened existing divides. Sources within the Azimio alliance reveal that there is a group of leaders within the alliance pushing for engagements with the Ruto government through lobbying and calling for negotiations because some gains can be made for their respective supporters and the country. This is a group that thinks that there is no better way to go than working together constructively especially in producing solutions to national problems and the achievement of political stability. Nonetheless, this approach has not been warmly welcomed by many people. Raila Odinga and the entire Azimio coalition as well as its supporter are still averse to any form of dialogue with President Ruto. One group looks at the meeting as a violation of what they stand for and a change in direction from their goals.
Others claim that supporting Ruto drains away the opposition’s mandate and can even threaten its legitimacy. In Azimio, the tension has been very clear and noticeable with leaders expressing their opinions publicly on a different matter.
More recently, in a public address, Raila Odinga re-affirmed his stance by telling his associates to avoid interacting with President Ruto. ”Our mission remains the same,” he declared, “We cannot compromise our beliefs for the sake of expediency ‘ “ He urged the members of the coalition to stand together.
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