Cracks have emerged in the Azimio la Umoja movement led by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga as his allies maneuver the political terrain ahead of the upcoming General Election.
It appears, sibling rivalry could dent the gains made by Kenyatta and Odinga since the formation of the grand alliance that brings together ODM, Jubilee and other affiliated parties.
Particularly in the Nairobi Gubernatorial race, a number of aspirants have thrown their hat in the ring in a bid to clinch the ticket under the Azimio movement.
What is turning out to be a hard nut for President Kenyatta and Odinga's allies to crack is which candidate to back within the Azimio political marriage.
On Sunday, February 6, one faction comprising ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi and former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru attended Githurai New Hope Christian Mission church in order to drum up support for their political bids.
Another grouping led by businessman Richard Ngatia, nominated MP Maina Kamanda and nominated Senator Beatrice Kwamboka, toured Ziwani area in Nairobi.
Sifuna took a swipe at the Ngatia-led faction, faulting them for using his photos in order to lure voters to their side.
"The other faction is using my pictures to mobilise people for rallies, but I can confirm that posters going around that we will be attending some rallies are fake. We are not attending those rallies,” Sifuna stated during the Sunday service.
Wanyonyi, who has declared bid for Nairobi's top seat, expressed confidence that city residents would make the right decision in voting for a leader who would put their interests at the forefront.
"We will transform Nairobi, and hand it back to you because you deserve the best. We want the youth to thrive, we want women and mothers to run successful businesses, and we want security for the nation,” he stated.
On the other hand, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry boss toured Ziwani, urging the residents to vote Raila into power while also campaigning for his gubernatorial bid.
Not to be left out of the equation, incumbent Governor Anne Kananu, who has also declared her bid to defend the seat, toured Kariokor exuding confidence that she is capable of restoring the lost glory of the city.
"We are wiser now, let us not join the culprits. We want leaders who will make sure our children go to school and residents have their development needs sorted out,” she noted.
The Azimio movement, seen as a merger between Jubilee and ODM, is likely to front a joint candidate- setting the stage for cutthroat competition during party primaries, that will ultimately be a litmus test for Kenyatta-Odinga unity pact, that has survived since March 2018, when the famous handshake happened.
