January 10, 2025

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Why Kalonzo is Hesitant to Sign Deal With Raila Odinga

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Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior has explained why Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has delayed in signing a coalition agreement with former Prime Minsiter Raila Odinga.

While appearing on a TV interview on Tuesday, March 1,  Kilonzo, a close ally of the former Vice President explained that One Kenya Alliance (OKA) had not signed a coalition agreement among its principals.

Mutula also disclosed that the postponement of the unveiling of the OKA coalition, which was scheduled for Monday, February 28, was informed by recent engagements between Kalonzo and Gatundu South Member of Parliament, Moses Kuria.

Chama Cha Kazi Party leader Moses Kuria at Thika Stadium, on Saturday, February 19, 2022.

Chama Cha Kazi Party leader Moses Kuria at Thika Stadium, on Saturday, February 19, 2022.COURTESYThe senator serving his second term detailed that OKA was still in talks with other parties with they aim of bringing on board more like-minded allies.

“There is a possibility of one person becoming a member of OKA i.e Chama Cha Kazi and others,” he stated.

Nonetheless, talks between OKA and Kuria pose a challenge to the union between Kalonzo and Raila as the Gatundu South legislator has taken a firm stance over working with Azimio La Umoja. 

“Whereas we share many ideals between Chama Cha Kazi and OKA, we agreed to work together as long as OKA is not joining the Azimio Coalition which is incompatible with myself and the Chama Cha Kazi Party,” Kuria stated then.

Also during the interview, Mutula revealed that there was a legal hitch that was preventing OKA and the Azimio La Umoja brigade from formalising their union.

“Anybody making the notion that we are joining Azimio has not read the law. We passed the Political Parties (Amendment) bill 2021 and Azimio was to become a political party. The structure on how it would become a political party is also defined in the law.

“For us to join Azimio it means that we must them disband OKA yet we have stated clearly that Azimio is not a political party as we speak and neither is OKA,” he stated.

Mutula disclosed that talks between the two coalitions had not yet began adding that the structures discussions would only start after Azimio was registered as a coalition political party.

“What Kalonzo stated was that we would form a coalition once we become registered political parties. When Azimio becomes a political party that is when we can talk,” the senator disclosed.

The unveiling of Azimio could face technical challenges as explained by Mutula despite President Uhuru Kenyatta promising that the coalition’s flag bearer would be announced in a few weeks’ time.