The inclusion of the opposition to the Kenya Kwanza cabinet has forced NARC Kenya political party led by Martha Karua to exit the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
In a letter dated July, 25, 2024 and signed by the party’s Secretary General, Asha Bashir, Karua says staying in the Azimio Coalition in no longer tenable.
“Kindly take note that our stay in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition is not tenable due to the prevailing political developments. As NARC Kenya by way of this letter, we are giving notice to exit the Coalition as stipulated in the exit clause (s) in the Coalition Agreement. This notice is effective from the date of this letter,” read the letter.
The letter was received by the Coalition Secretary General Junet Mohammed who also serves as the Minority whip at the National Assembly.
No doubt the inclusion of the opposition in President William Ruto’s government has triggered NARC Kenya’s move.
Karua was Raila Odinga’s running mate in the August, 2022 presidential race.
The Cabinet
On Wednesday, President Ruto nominated both two ODM Deputy party leaders; Former Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho for the Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime affairs docket while former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya was fronted to head the Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Ministry.
Also other nominees from ODM an affiliate party to the Azimio Coalition were ODM Chairperson John Mbadi (National Treasury and Economic Planning) and Ugunja Member of Parliament who is also the Minority leader at the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) CS nominee.
Raila, has worked a plan to invade any government of the day since the late Mwai Kibaki’s regime.
Wednesday events may even split the ODM Party as some of the members among them Siaya Governor, James Orengo have bitterly criticized Raila for joining President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government.
The country has witnessed anti-government protests—pegged on battling poor governance, graft, ethnicity, discrimination in employment opportunities, bloated wage bill among various critical governance issues, which now rest under the ‘coalition government’ carpet.
The scramble for top ministerial jobs by the opposition comes amid protests over the killing of over 50 youth who participated in the anti-government protests.
Bigger percentage of Kenyans are castigating Ruto’s government for serving ethnic inclination forgetting the larger Kenya. The youth have been agitating for President Ruto’s resignation.