Azimio MPs Want Uhuru Locked Out of Anti-Ruto Rallies

A photo collage of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio Leader Raila Odinga.
A photo collage of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio Leader Raila Odinga.
File

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's woes deepened after Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to the Azimio la Umoja coalition rejected his involvement in the party.

Speaking after a Parliamentary sitting on Wednesday, February 15, the MPs outlined reasons why they were convinced that the former Head of State added no value to the party.

They called on their leader Raila Odinga to bar him from attending his national rallies hinting that the continued association hurt the opposition.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi disclosed that he had approached Raila and even held discussions with other leaders on how they would process an ouster on Uhuru.

Saboti MP, Caleb Amisi, condoles with  the families of those who lost loved ones in the Turkey earthquake, on February, 15, 2023
Saboti MP, Caleb Amisi, condoles with the families of those who lost loved ones in the Turkey earthquake, on February 15, 2023
Photo
Caleb Amisi

“If anything, he will reduce the gain Raila has made in all these years. The presence of Uhuru in our rallies is continuously destroying our image as opposition because people may think he is the one who is sponsoring the rallies,” he stated. 

Amisi further explained that Uhuru had led to false accusations about the party and even tainted Azimio's image.

“Raila’s rallies are not sponsored but his image shows they are being sponsored,” he added.

Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu, on the other hand, called on the ex-commander-in-chief to proceed to retirement arguing that he had failed to help the opposition ascend to power while he was still the Head of State.

“If he was not able to bring his stronghold together while he was a sitting President, would his involvement in politics after retirement have any serious impact on Azimio as a coalition? If I were him, I would just opt to retire,’ he explained.

Speaking in Luanda, Vihiga County, shortly after attending the burial of former Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha in Siaya County, on February 11, Uhuru reiterated that his support was for Raila

He maintained that despite retiring from active politics, he was still very much energised and would not depart from the political arena anytime soon.

According to the presidential retirement benefits act, a retired president should not hold office in any political party six months after ceasing to hold office as a President. 

Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, and President (Rtd) in their first joint rally in Luanda, Vihiga County on Saturday, February 11, 2023
Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, and President (Rtd) in their first joint rally in Luanda, Vihiga County on Saturday, February 11, 2023
Facebook
ODM