Aden Duale Accuses Raila, Azimio Of Misleading Kenyans

Garissa Township Member of Parliament, Aden Duale, penned an open letter to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Azimio la Umoja leaders on Saturday, August 13, exposing a number of misleading statistics revealed during their meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC).

In the letter, Duale red-flagged a statement made by the Azimio presidential running mate, Martha Karua broadcasted on live television that the coalition bagged 180 seats in the next Parliament, which is more than those of Kenya Kwanza.

He argued that the coalition only bagged 150 seats, which were less than Kenya Kwanza at 160.

"Indeed, it was quite unfortunate that Senior Counsel and the Running Mate for the Azimio Coalition, Martha Karua, this morning in the "knowing each other" meeting publicly stated that Azimio Coalition has 180 Members of Parliament. The National Assembly has a total membership of 349 out of which 12 are slots for nominated MPS based on respective Party strength in the National Assembly.

"Results for 3 constituencies are still pending and elections for 4 Constituencies were deferred. So far now we are looking at 330 positions (349-12-7) and this is where we are in the National Assembly. The Kenya Kwanza Coalition has over 160 Members of the National Assembly and still counting," he explained.

Duale further noted that there are 12 independent Members so far, most of whom are aligned to Kenya Kwanza. There are 3 Members elected from other Parties, neither belonging to any coalition.

The legislator further added that the Kenya Kwanza Coalition is also expected to take the largest share of the 12 nominated slots in the National Assembly, noting its current strength in terms of representation and may also get additional Members from the pending 7 constituencies.

"The Azimio Coalition has just around 150 Members of the National Assembly. These are the facts. Kenya Kwanza Coalition has the Majority Strength in the National Assembly! In the Senate, the Kenya Kwanza Coalition has a total of 24 out of the total membership of the 47 Senators.

"The Azimio Coalition has a total of 22 Senators. There is 1 independent Senator. From the foregoing, the facts are that Kenya Kwanza Coalition has the majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate," Duale added.

The lawmaker urged the coalition to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conclude its job and desist from misleading Kenyans by purporting to wear the hat of the commission. He added that it must come with facts, in the event it chooses to assume the roles of the IEBC.

Karua had noted that the coalition has 24 governors so far, minus those from Mombasa and Kakamega which had their gubernatorial elections suspended to Tuesday, August 23.

"For all of you, because you are in Nairobi, we need to distribute ourselves to where our places where we are needed in order to guard our win because we have won. I was looking at the list of MPs, I am very attempted to read our names, but we are just short of 180 when you combine. We have 24 governors at the moment. If you add Mombasa and Kakamega whose by-election is coming later, you will see we have strength around the country. 

"If you look at our competition, they are just at about 130 MPs when I last counted. Even if it improves, it will not come anywhere to what we have. For senators, we have 23 and they have one up (24)," Karua remarked.

Number of Azimio, Kenya Kwanza Elected Senators, Governors, MPs

As of Saturday, August 13, The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) had 116 MPs-elect, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) with 75, Jubilee 23, Wiper 19, Independents 8, Ford Kenya 5, ANC 6.

DAP-K 5, KANU 5, UDM 6, PAA 3, Maendeleo Chap Chap 2 and The Service Party of Kenya 1, according to the numbers of legislators confirmed by the IEBC.

This is taking into consideration that the commission had suspended polls in Kacheliba, Kitui Rural, Pokot South, Rongai (Nakuru) over irregularities in terms of the ballot papers having inaccurate details of the candidates.

In the Senator race, UDA had 21, Ford Kenya 1, Jubilee 4, ODM 12, Wiper 3 and National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) Party of Kenya 1. 

As for the governors, UDA led with 18, followed by ODM 13, Wiper 3, independent 2, ANC 1, Jubilee 1, DAP-K 1, UDM - 2 and UPA 1. Here is the list of governors below: