Raila’s place in Uhuru new power game

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga at a past event. [File,Standard]

Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s ODM could be next in line after Kanu to sign a post-election coalition agreement with the Jubilee Party if ongoing negotiations go through.

But the agreement, if completed, will relate purely to parliamentary business (both Senate and National Assembly), confidential sources told The Standard.

A meeting with top party organs has been planned for Friday (tomorrow) on the status of ongoing negotiations, which have been taking place in the background of the fall out in Jubilee. Wiper Democratic Movement and Ford Kenya are also engaged in their separate negotiation with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s side to further bolster his numbers.

However, ODM leadership is cagey on whether the Orange party was part of the wider plot by President Kenyatta to control Parliament.

Chairman John Mbadi, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Political Affairs Secretary Opiyo Wandayi confirmed that, indeed, Raila and President Kenyatta have been holding secret meetings.

“Our Party leader has been holding meetings quite often with the President, but I’m not be privy to the resolutions. But I think what is brewing is good,” said Sifuna

Sources at the party, however, confided to us that the talks were centred on a coalition agreement which would lay basis for House take-over and possible formation of a Government of National Unity after the final validation of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Report.

The party membership, combined with Jubilee side loyal to President Kenyatta, and other Opposition formations, would deal a fatal blow to Deputy President William Ruto’s wing in conduct of parliamentary business.

Other ODM party leaders we spoke to were careful not to be drawn into discussions about the coalition, saying it was the sole preserve of the party leader and that they would wait for his word. President Kenyatta has in the recent past signalled his intention to work with like-minded national political leaders.

Protecting Duale

But even as they denied involvement in looming Jubilee assault in the National Assembly, Mbadi and his colleagues vowed to shield Leader of Majority Aden Duale should an axe be swung his way. In ordinary course of events, an Opposition party would have no role in changes of Majority Leader Office.

Mbadi said unlike his ousted counterpart in the Senate, Kipchumba Murkomen, Mr Duale was loyal to the Presidency and should be retained. He said Duale has been very supportive in pushing Jubilee and the Handshake agenda in the House.

“Despite being allied to Ruto, Duale has been very loyal and proactive to pushing Uhuru’s agenda in the House,” argued Mbadi

Mbadi’s opinion on Duale are in sync with Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe’s pronouncements on the same. Murathe, a key ally of President Kenyatta, has also been hinting at a looming coalition with the Opposition, including the setting up of GNU.

“It is not like we cannot move on and leave the party to them. You have mentioned Baba (Raila) here, people can expect new formation in the future. In fact, if you ask me, post coronavirus, this country probably needs a Government of National Unity to bring everyone together,” Murathe said a few weeks ago after a meeting in Kajiado.

Murathe told The Standard that the axe is moving to the National Assembly when it resumes. It is hoped that before the end of recess, the two sides would have agreed on a coalition agreement, which would enable ODM to play a role.

Yesterday, Mbadi, Sifuna and Wandayi denied that they were interested in Jubilee positions in Parliament and the politics surrounding them.

Sifuna said they were working on a completely different arrangement with Jubilee, anchoring their decisions on the suggested reforms contained in the BBI report.

Eyes on referendum

“For us, we are waiting for the outcome of the BBI recommendations before we can start negotiations to build alliances ahead of 2022,” he said.

The ODM party has been using the BBI as a vehicle to push for a referendum that would eventually lead to constitutional changes ahead of 2022. The ODM officials yesterday hinted that it will be after this referendum that they would discuss a power sharing deal with Jubilee.

Sifuna and Mbadi disclosed that the party was pushing for serious electoral reforms suggested in BBI to ensure inclusivity and to create a level playing field ahead of 2022. Already, the BBI Task force has recommended an expanded Executive where the President will be Head of State, Government and Commander-in-Chief.

The BBI report retains the President also as the symbol of national unity, who appoints a Prime Minister to deliver on the day-to-day implementation of policy.

“This pandemic made us suspend many things, which we will revisit after it eases. This includes re-looking it BBI proposals on the Executive structure,” Sifuna said.