The political landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have finally admitted their party is now part of the government, ending weeks of denial and mixed messages.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
This admission comes on the heels of a cancelled Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition meeting, which was expected to be chaired by former President Uhuru Kenyatta but was boycotted by ODM members.
The political fallout has been severe. Five ODM members, who recently joined President William Ruto’s Cabinet, have caused deep rifts within the opposition. These divisions have prompted calls to dismantle the coalition, initially formed to challenge Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition in the 2022 elections.
For weeks, ODM leaders and their allies have vehemently denied that the party was involved in the government. However, recent statements from key figures within the party indicate a dramatic shift in tone.
UDA MP Geoffrey Ruku and Senator Richard Onyonka, who were once at odds over Ruto’s policies, now openly acknowledge that ODM is indeed running the government.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Tuesday Onyonka dismissed the notion that ODM had merely “donated” some of its members to the government. “ODM is in government.
It’s no longer just a rumour. As an oversight officer, it’s difficult to know how to navigate this situation because I still have to oversee the government, including our own members like John Mbadi,” Onyonka stated.
Ruku echoed this sentiment, emphasising the significance of ODM’s involvement pointing to President Ruto’s decision to hand the Treasury docket to John Mbadi.
“ODM is running the government. It is part of the government. As some of you know, Treasury is one of the critical documents of any government in the world.
Whether it is the Kenyan government or the United States of America government, the Treasury is a key component, a very critical docket of running government affairs. You understand the PSS and other CSs queue at the Treasury,” asserted Ruku.
The controversy surrounding ODM’s involvement in the government has thrown the opposition into disarray. The cancelled Azimio Council meeting, which was set to address the party’s role in the government, has only added fuel to the fire. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was supposed to lead the meeting, was forced to switch to a virtual format after ODM members refused to participate.
Representatives from other major Azimio-affiliated parties, including Wiper, Jubilee, DAP-K, Kanu, and PNU, were ready to attend the meeting. However, ODM’s surprise press conference, led by chairperson Gladys Wanga, sent shockwaves through the coalition.
Wanga and other ODM officials declared they were unaware of the Azimio meeting and warned against any attempts to remove Raila Odinga from the coalition’s leadership.
The public spat between Kenyatta’s allies and ODM has escalated into a full-blown crisis, with Odinga’s camp accusing the former president of pushing for reconciliation with Ruto and undermining the opposition’s stance.
ODM’s insistence that only the Azimio Council’s secretary-general, Junet Mohamed, has the authority to convene coalition meetings, further deepened the rift.
As the dust settles, the question of ODM’s true role in the government remains a hot topic. What is clear is that the political dynamics within the coalition have shifted, leaving many wondering what the future holds for both ODM and the broader Azimio la Umoja coalition…CONTINUE READING>>
