Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei on Wednesday, December 7 alluded that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's move to hold protests is insubordination to former President Uhuru Kenyatta who is the chair of the Azimio One Kenya Coalition.
The outspoken lawmaker further claimed that the end game of the Odinga protests is to have a handshake arrangement which he affirmed would not happen.
"If Uhuru chair of Azimio-OKA is not leading Kamukunji public consultations/maandamano then Tinga is insubordinating his chair. The end game of Tinga is a handshake, which shall not happen. We shall not send him home for the second time," read the statement.
Former President Kenyatta is leading peace talks between the M23 rebels and the Congolese government and has had limited say in the running of the Azimio coalition.
Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni declared that the party will participate in the Azimio consultative meetings.
Speaking on Monday, December 5, Kioni noted if required, the party members will join the public rallies scheduled to start on Wednesday, December 7.
“If it is a rally that we will need to attend as members of the opposition then we will attend. I am sure we will get communication from Raila Odinga,” Kioni indicated during an interview with Spice FM.
The Azimio party leader pledged to “bring down President Ruto’s system” in the public rallies which are set to kick off at the Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi on Wednesday, December 7.
In what is shaping up to be a battle of relevance and might, Odinga launched a resistance onslaught against President William Ruto’s administration that is expected to run for 30 days, before a final declaration is made.
Odinga will first hold the Kamukunji rally in Kibra then lead parallel Jamhuri day celebrations at Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi on December 12.
The planned demos stem from the ongoing probe of four Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners by Parliament.
Some of the affiliate parties in Azimio took issue with the direction the coalition took, with the Kenya Union Party (KUP) distancing itself from the coalition’s planned rallies.
KUP party leader Prof. John Lonyang’apuo addressed the media on Tuesday, December 6, stating that no discussions were held prior to the planned mass action.
“Kenya Union Party unequivocally disassociates itself from the planned demonstrations by the ODM Party under the gaze of collective Azimio decision,” Lonyang’apuo announced.
He insisted that there were better ways of airing grievances, dismissing the consultative meetings convened by the former Prime Minister.
