What did they sign? Kalonzo now issues conflicting details on Azimio deal, claims event was rushed

Differences have emerged in the Azimio La Umoja movement over the finer details of the coalition agreement that was signed in Nairobi on Saturday, March 12.

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka now claims the Saturday event was rushed and that the deal signed was for a grouping to be named 'Azimio-One Kenya Alliance movement'.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the name is Azimio One Kenya Alliance,” said Kalonzo on Monday.

But Prof. Makau Mutua who is Raila Odinga’s campaign spokesman has rejected Kalonzo's claim saying all parties were signing up to form a coalition party called Azimio La Umoja movement.

“What was signed on Saturday was to form the Azimio coalition party, that is what was signed on Saturday,” says Prof. Makau Mutua.

The team said the interpretation given by Kalonzo would essentially amount to a violation of the law. Article section 7 sub-section 9 of the amended Political Parties Act prohibits a party from joining or belonging to two different coalitions. In this case, parties in One Kenya Alliance belonging to the Azimio La Umoja movement as suggested by Kalonzo

To muddy the waters further, the Wiper leader claimed the entire process to unveil Odinga as the Azimio presidential flag bearer was rushed. As a result of the rush, Kalonzo says his Wiper Party refrained from signing the declaration endorsing Odinga as the Azimio presidential candidate.

“My Secretary-General didn’t sign the second document because it was an Azimio only thing. Ask many of those SG’s what they appended there signatures, they have no clue,” says Kalonzo.

As the Wiper leader claims foul play in the Azimio deal, Kalonzo will be sitting at the highest decision making organ of the movement, the Azimio Council.

The council is to include President Uhuru Kenyatta as Chairman, ODM leader Raila Odinga as party leader and presidential flag bearer. Odinga’s running mate will also seat at the council.

With ODM producing the presidential flag bearer, the running mate position has been reserved for either the Jubilee Party or Wiper.

Others in the 7-member council include KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.

In the Azimio La Umoja movement structure is the National Executive Council (NEC) that will include constituent party chairpersons, secretary generals, treasurers, organizing secretaries youth and women leagues.

The secretariat that will oversee the day-to-day running of the country’s largest political machine will include technocrats. With 24 parties under the Azimio umbrella, the movement is still grappling with its nominations rules.

With the signing of the coalition agreement on the 12th of March, the Azimio mandarins have until the 26th of March to deposit the coalition agreement with the registrar of parties.