Azimio is Intact – Raila Says As Mt Kenya Leaders Threaten Exit

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition party leader Raila Odinga has maintained that he did not lose the elections.

The former prime minister told reporters on Sunday that they will not stop seeking the truth behind the August polls in which President William Ruto emerged victorious.

At the same time, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader downplayed claims of cracks within the coalition.

He said the coalition is as “strong as ever”.

Read: Wetangula Receives Azimio Defectors as He Seeks to Strengthen Ford-Kenya

This comes as Mt Kenya leaders who were part of the Azimio brigade before and during the polls said they were ready to cut ties with the opposition.

Led by former Nyeri MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, the politicians said they had settled their debt to the former prime minister and were now cozying up to President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

“Azimio was never about Raila Odinga. Azimio is a movement that brought several political parties together. They share certain ideologies and a common vision. It’s not about Raila and it was never meant to reward Raila,” Raila said.

“For as we know we never lost the election. The jury is still out, watch this space.”

Read Also: Jubilee Underdelivered – Sifuna Says As Mt Kenya Leaders Seek to Cut Ties with Raila

The Mt Kenya leaders have said that the interests of the region are more important than political debts.

They noted that they rallied the people who voted overwhelmingly for Raila. They said that they delivered over a million votes, the most votes Raila has ever received in the region.

“For the first time, Raila got the highest number of votes in Mt Kenya, which he has never gotten, and it’s now time to move on,” said Jubilee party secretary general Jeremiah Kioni.

Cracks within the coalition widened after MPs voted for nine EALA MPs. Jubilee was of the view that ODM did not vote for their candidates who included Kioni and former Kieni MP Kanini Kega.

Read Also: Gachagua: I Supported Kanini for EALA Job

However, DP Rigathi Gachagua revealed that he rallied his troops to vote for Kega even though they were on opposing sides.

As a result, Wambugu said it was not too late to hold talks with the DP.

“We can meet and talk about issues affecting us and he will listen. He is the leader holding the highest position in the region,” Wambugu said.

Kioni maintained that Mt Kenya will work together regardless of which political divide one belongs to.