Raphael Tuju - the Azimio La Umoja Secretariat Executive Director - has addressed the emerging cracks in the political faction following a move by the One Kenya Alliance to oppose the registration of the coalition.
Speaking at a Nairobi hotel on Tuesday, October 12, after meeting Secretary Generals of Azimio affiliate parties, Tuju stated that the coalition was still intact, calling on all its members to remain steadfast in their support for the Raila Odinga-led political faction.
Tuju noted that the move by OKA to oppose the registration of the coalition was part of internal politics, adding that affiliate parties will always agree and disagree on some issues.
"We are together and the Secretary Generals here have confirmed, but that does not mean that we cannot have competing interests at times. It is friendship and in some certain areas we have conflict, and that happens in every family" Tuju stated.
The former Cabinet Secretary without portfolio in President Uhuru Kenyatta's government added that Azimio affiliate parties will hold a meeting in the coming weeks to address the last-minute challenges.
On Monday, Wiper Democratic Movement, KANU and Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) wrote to the Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, raising three issues that needed to be addressed before the coalition could be registered.
In the letter, OKA opposed the addition of caucuses from three to four, the number of the members of the coalition Council from 7 to 11 and the selection of the presidential candidate's running mate as a deputy party leader.
"It is apparent that the agreement lodged on April 1 was withdrawn and certain clauses amended or altered without the consent of all the parties and signatories," read the opposing statement from the three parties.
Machakos Governor, Alfred Mutua, condemned Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, for causing confusion in the alliance, saying that he was exhibiting selfish behaviour by blackmailing the leadership to get what he wants.
"Anyone opposed to the expansion of Azimio and who wants only a three-legged stool of three parties to be in charge and disregards everyone else must have plans of blackmail and entitlement," stated Mutua.
Mutua accused Kalonzo of being a mole who was hell-bent on bringing down Azimio, noting that a four-legged stool would stand if one of the legs broke.
"Anyone engaging to ferment a crisis and pushing for the exclusion of others that would make Azimio stronger must be working for the competition - with the aim of weakening a strong coalition that is meant to propel Raila Odinga to the presidency," he declared.
