Kalonzo to meet Raila over future of the opposition

Azimio Leaders Hon Raila Odinga, Hon Kalonzo Musyoka, Hon Eugene Wamalwa and other leaders attend burial of Mzee Willy Muasya, Son in law to Hon Kalonzo Musyoka at Kasaala, Ikutha, Kitui County. [ Dennis Kavisu] Azimio co-principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka are expected to meet today to discuss the future of the opposition and whether the two will work together in 2027. Sources from the two sides indicated that the meeting had been pushed to today as Raila is in Dubai taking a break from a grueling campaign for the African Union Commission chairmanship, which he lost to Djibouti's Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. Kalonzo asked for the meeting in his bid to try and convince Raila to come back to the opposition and to focus on 2027 general election, saying if the ODM party leader did so, he will reclaim his lost legacy. The decision by Kalonzo was reached after he met other opposition leaders as well as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) party leader Eugene Wamalwa this week. The leaders resolved that if Raila were to join their team, they would form a coalition, replica of 2002 that denied Kanu's Presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta Presidency. "Kalonzo seeks to brief Raila of the status of the opposition since he developed camaraderie with President Ruto and the new entrants who include former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Transzoia Governor George Natembeya among others," a source familiar to the meeting told The Standard. Kalonzo said he had called Raila to inform him about his lost legacy after appearing like he betrayed Gen Z when he crossed over to the government at the height of their protests last year. Siding with dictators "I called him and I told him that I was very concerned about his legacy. He can reclaim his legacy as a person who fought for democracy, human rights of citizens of this country, putting his life on the line. How can he lose all that by siding with dictators," Kalonzo added. Kalonzo is also expected to convince Raila to direct his troops who are now working with Ruto in his Cabinet to resign since it could give him an opportunity to redeem his name that he lost after associating himself with Ruto's administration. According to Kalonzo, Raila has a window to take charge of the opposition for the remainder of the term even as he noted that ODM held a key for Raila's window of leading the country. "ODM holds the key. They should either act for the best interests of the country and agitate for our positions in Parliament so that Raila leads the majority. This window can close if they choose to go the Kenya Kwanza way. But if ODM insists they want to join Ruto then they will be gone," Kalonzo said. Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma said there is no division in ODM party on principle, but on the strategy to capture power. "All members agree that ODM must be strong and must field candidates, including presidential candidate, in all future elections. The members of ODM party also know and agree that it is near impossible and impracticable for a single political party to win elections in this multi-ethnic Kenya, and that political parties have to go into coalition to win elections and to govern the country." "And this is the point of disagreement. One side believes ODM should enter into coalition with Gachagua-led coalition consisting of Gachagua, Kalonzo, Eugine Wamalwa, Natembeya, Matiang'i - to remove Ruto from power...The other side believes politics is much more than the pursuit of revenge and that Gachagua is a tribalist. To this group, ODM party should associate with President Ruto," Kaluma posted on X platform. While addressing the status of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, Kalonzo admitted that the coalition was limping and that it was no longer compliant with the Political Parties Act because of the failure by the Summit to meet.

Kalonzo to meet Raila over future of the opposition

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