Raphael Tuju Named Azimio Secretariat’s Executive Director

Former Cabinet Secretary without portfolio Raphael Tuju has been named executive director of the Azimio la Umoja secretariat by ODM leader Raila Odinga.

“The appointment, which Hon. Tuju has accepted, takes immediate effect,” a statement by Raila’s spokesman Dennis Onyango read.

Tuju was chosen because he is a skilled communicator with prior expertise in public relations management, said Onyango.

“A communication specialist by training, Hon Tuju has decades of experience in politics and government, having served as member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Jubilee Party Secretary General.”

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Tuju will manage the strategic and program teams that will seek to guarantee the coalition’s victory in the August 9 elections. He will also coordinate all the Azimio member parties.

Last month, Tuju was rumoured to be eyeing the Nairobi governor seat with former State House chief of staff Nzioka Waita being touted as his running mate.

Tuju dismissed the claims as “just rumours”.

Nzioka who is running for the Machakos Governor seat said the claims were being peddled by his competitors who have already sensed defeat.

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“It appears that the my opponents are in full panic mode ..having seen the latest Machakos Gubernatorial race polls for themselves and how their candidate’s lead has been decimated by a first timer… in 5/8 sub-counties to a single digit margin,” he told Capital News.

Tuju’s appointment comes just two months after he announced his resignation as the ruling party’s secretary general.

The former Rarieda MP expressed gratitude for the president’s confidence in him.

“Thank you for standing with me even at a personal level when I had a horrific accident until now I am able to stand here.”

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Tuju did not say what he would do next, but he did say that the president had given him new responsibilities.

“We have agreed with the president that he will give me other responsibilities going forward,” Tuju said.