DAP-K party pushes Raila's ODM to exit Azimio over alliance with Ruto

Azimio la Umoja parties have continued to mount pressure on Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and other affiliate parties that have aligned with the government to officially exit the opposition.

The Democratic Action Party, led by former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, called on these parties to leave the coalition, allowing the remaining members to focus on keeping President William Ruto's administration in check

"Parties that want to join the government, like ODM, are free to do so, but you must do the honourable thing by exiting Azimio because you cannot be both in government and opposition," Wamalwa said on Friday during DAP-K's National Executive Council meeting. 

DAP-K threatened to exit the coalition if the parties working with Kenya Kwanza did not leave, a decision that the party leader was ordered to communicate during the upcoming Azimio Council meeting.

Wamalwa cited the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, rampant graft, and the high cost of living that has been compounded by punitive taxes among the issues the party wanted addressed by the government.

In preparation for the 2027 General Election, the party announced plans to rebrand, undertake a national membership recruitment drive, and hold grass-roots elections.

Hassan Joho is sworn in as Mining CS at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, August 8, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

The Coalition is facing significant turbulence after President William Ruto appointed four ODM politicians from Azimio leader Raila Odinga's party to serve in his 'broad-based' government.

These are former ODM Chairperson John Mbadi, Deputy Party Leaders Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, and ex-National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, who now serve as Treasury, Mining, Cooperatives, and Energy Cabinet Secretaries, respectively.

Azimio's co-principal and ODM party leader, Raila Odinga, has continuously insisted that he has not shared power with President William Ruto.

Nonetheless, Azimio affiliate parties still want him and his ODM party out of the opposition wing, insisting that they are compromised.

Martha Karua's Narc Kenya party recently ditched the Azimio Coalition after Ruto appointed four former ODM officials to his cabinet, saying, "Our stay in Azimio is no longer tenable due to the prevailing political developments."

Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni have countless times insisted that their parties had no intent of joining the government that they claim had lost its legitimacy.

Joining the government, they said, would undermine their values, principles, and ideologies, especially good governance.

"Any party joining the government is doing so on its own behalf and not that of the Coalition," Kalonzo recently said.

John Mbadi, Treasury CS, appears before the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments on Saturday, August 3, 2024. (Photo: Parliament)