Karua, Kioni Join Forces Amidst Rumoured Cracks In Azimio

The new forum held a press briefing on Tuesday, September 19 addressing issues that had already been covered by Azimio less than 72 hours earlier

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Sep 20, 2023 - 13:30
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Karua, Kioni Join Forces Amidst Rumoured Cracks In Azimio
Jeremiah Kioni and Martha Karua interact with a police officer in Meru County on July 12, 2023. /JUBILEE PARTY

NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua and embattled Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni have fronted a new political outfit, raising further speculation of differences within the opposing Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Dubbed Kamwene Leadership Forum, the new outfit is meant to champion the interests of the Mt Kenya region, coming considerably after Azimio had failed to name a member from the vote-rich region to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) charged with spearheading bipartisan talks between the opposition and the government.

The new forum held a press briefing on Tuesday, September 19 addressing issues that had already been covered by Azimio less than 72 hours earlier, a move that raised questions regarding whether there could be cracks within the Raila Odinga-led opposition over the ongoing talks.

However, Karua was quick to dismiss rumours of a breakup in the coalition, noting that Kamwene was only a space through which Mt Kenya leaders speak.

NARC-Kenya party leader, Martha Karua speaking to the media on September 19, 2023, at Jubilee Party Headquarters. /X

“It does not mean we are not in Azimio, if we weren’t we would say it without beating around the bush. You saw us speak as Azimio, today we are here speaking as Kamwene, tomorrow I will speak as Narc-Kenya, all these are spaces we occupy,” she affirmed.

During the presser, Karua and Kioni presented their own assessment of President William Ruto’s one year in office at the Jubilee Party headquarters, just days after Azimio issued its scorecard of the current administration at a briefing that was attended by the two.

On Saturday, September 16, Raila unveiled a D- score for President Ruto after serving for one year, claiming that it was disastrous.

"We have collected over ten million signatures which we will use accordingly. However, I do not want to reveal how we will use these signatures in the near future.

"This time around, I will not call on anyone to go back to the streets. But be rest assured that we will use these signatures since this regime has failed," Raila stated at the time.

Kioni on his part assured that the Kamwene forum consisted of people who were not affiliated with any of the political bigwigs but merely advocating for the best interests of the Mt Kenya region.

“This is Kamwene Leadership Forum, a group of people who are not in Kenya Kwanza, neither are they in Azimio but are pushing the interests of the Mountain,” Kioni said, even though their assessment of the Ruto regime largely seemed to agree with that of Azimio.

Karua meanwhile termed the actions by the Kenya Kwanza regime as "clueless and insensitive."

The Nation reported that the differences within the opposition may have arisen during the crisis meeting convened by Odinga last week whereby some senior opposition officials had suggested that the talks be suspended to protest against the government’s decision to increase fuel prices.

Some also argued that there was no commitment by President Ruto on some of the agenda items after he held a meeting with ODM rebel MPs. Cost of living and interference with political parties by the ruling outfit are some of the agenda items for discussions by the 10-member dialogue committee.

Reportedly, Karua and Kioni were in agreement with these sentiments but were overruled by Odinga and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

After the crisis meeting, Raila had told journalists that the coalition would make a major announcement about the talks the following day, only to be shelved in favour of making reference to the 10 million signatures the coalition has collected as a clear indication that Kenyans were unhappy with Ruto's government.

Kioni on Tuesday said that had he been the one in Raila's shoes, he would have by now pulled out of the talks.

“We are going nowhere with these talks, but we are in support of Baba and the decision he has taken,” Kioni stated.

Azimio was yet to respond to the fronting of Karua and Kioni's political outfit by the time of publishing this article.

Raila Odinga speaking to the press flanked by top Azimio leaders at SKM Centre on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. /RAILA ODINGA

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