Azimio La Umoja delegates convened at the Kenyatta International Convention Conference to endorse former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, for the presidency.
Over 20 political parties have joined Azimio, with Jubilee Party and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), being the main players.
The endorsement comes a few weeks after ODM chose Raila as its flagbearer. Jubilee further granted President Uhuru Kenyatta powers to negotiate with other parties on its behalf.
Uhuru, nonetheless, openly supported Raila as his successor.
Azimio la Umoja’s convention also comes amid tensions with the One Kenya Alliance (OKA), a political formation that has remained largely indecisive on the presidential aspirant of choice.
Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, a co-principal in OKA, claimed that Raila promised to endorse him after the 2017 polls. He also leaked a pact signed between him and Raila in the run-up to the 2017 presidential election.
On Friday, March 11, OKA principals, Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper, Martha Karua (Narc-Kenya), Gideon Moi (KANU) and Cyrus Jirongo (United Democratic Party) signed an agreement to solidify their union.
4:17 PM: Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua responds on her whereabouts after Kalonzo signs a deal with Azimio La Umoja leaders.
3:26 PM: The ODM Party leader states that he has solved his differences with Kalonzo Musyoka.
3:14 PM: Raila Odinga thanks Kalonzo and other leaders for their support. He states that the Azimio Convention would not have been possible without the March 2018 handshake.
"I want to pay gratitude to all of you who are here today, who have made a decision to nominate me as your candidate in the coming election. I accept the nomination by Azimio La Umoja to vie for the President of the Republic of Kenya in the August 2022 elections."
3:07 PM: The President gives a special thank you to Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka for supporting Raila Odinga and putting aside his own ambitions.
3:06 PM: President Uhuru Kenyatta states that all leaders in Azimio are capable of pursuing the presidency and most have set aside their own ambitions for a united country.
2:54 PM: Jubilee, ODM, Wiper, Kanu and 17 other political parties sign an agreement to join Azimio la Umoja movement.
2:14 PM: KANU Party leader Gideon Moi and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka arrive at KICC for Raila's endorsement.
2:13 PM: President Uhuru Kenyatta arrives at KICC for the unveiling of Raila Odinga as Azimio La Umoja's presidential flagbearer.
2:05 PM: Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga arrives at the Kenyatta International Convention Conference (KICC).
