Succession politics in Azimio la Umoja has taken a new twist after Professor Makau Mutua revealed intrigues behind the agreement that was signed between coalition members before the 2022 elections.
In a statement, the ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who served as the spokesperson and head of the Secretariat's think tank in the 2022 polls, detailed that the agreement provided for the position of deputy party leader, however, no one was chosen to fill it.
He added that no provision dictates that Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua will take over from Raila should he be elected as the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.
"The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Deed of Agreement provides for a deputy party leader, but one was never chosen, or designated. The position is vacant.
"Nor is there any provision that Azimio’s running mate in the 2022 elections would be deputy party leader," he stated.
Mutua made the remarks in response to Karua's interview with the Daily Nation on Thursday, April 11, where she asserted that she was the next in line should Raila move to Addis Ababa.
During the interview, the Narc Kenya party leader also hit out at Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, maintaining that she was more suitable to take over the mantle of the opposition coalition party.
“If I’m the deputy, is that a question? Even in small organisations like a school, when the headmaster goes to a meeting in Nairobi, who acts? It is the deputy,”
“If we are unable to follow simple basic rules, then something is very wrong with us," she stated during the interview.
Notably, in recent days, Kalonzo and Karua have taken a swipe at each other over their strategies to succeed Raila.
In particular, Kalonzo has criticised Karua for being part of a Kamwene outfit which focuses on issues facing the Mt Kenya region.
Other members of the outfit include Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni.
"I don't want to pass judgment on that issue but have you heard of things like dead on arrival? This thing means individualism. It's a terrible political philosophy. I would advise my friends to leave it and we stick together in Azimio," Kalonzo stated during a past interview.
Meanwhile, Raila has called on leaders, especially those in his party to stop discussing succession politics and focus on the unity of their faction and issues facing Kenyans.
In ODM, there is a division between deputy party leaders Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya on who should take over the leadership of the party.
