Clergyman suggests Gideon Moi as Uhuru successor in Azimio

KANU chairman Gideon Moi.[File, Standard]

A clergyman has proposed KANU chairman Gideon Moi be the successor of former president Uhuru Kenyatta in the Azimio Coalition Council.

This comes amid unconfirmed reports indicating that the former head of state is on his way out of the coalition's leadership, to focus on his new role as a peace envoy in the region.

In a letter to newsrooms on December 14, Bishop Julius Onam argues that Moi played a huge role in re-uniting Azimio leader Raila Odinga and his long-time political ally Kalonzo Musyoka.

Bishop Onam says he is a member of KANU party-Homabay chapter.

"I, Bishop Julius Onam Ogada KANU Life Member NO.6053 I do hereby support Hon. Gideon Moi CBS to be our new Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance Chairman to replace His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta CGH," he says.

"Hon. Gideon Moi did a good job during the campaign of our Alliance, he brought together Hon. Dr. Raila Amolo Odinga Party Leader of ODM and Hon. Dr. Kalonzo Musyoka Party Leader of Wiper Party and they did a nice campaign for our Presidential Candidate Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga,"

Reports of Uhuru's planned departure from Azimio was brought to light by former Jubilee party chairman David Murathe.

In an interview barely a week ago, Murathe revealed that the Azimio council will soon convene a meeting and confirm his exit.

"We will be having a meeting very soon where he will formally resign as the chairman of the Azimio council. You cannot have two drivers steering a bus. This vehicle called Azimio now has one driver and that driver is Jakom (Mr Odinga)," Murathe said.

Eight months ago, while still serving as president, Uhuru was gazetted as the chairman on of the Azimio council.

The coalition brought together some 26 political parties and was led by two organs - the Coalition Council and the National Coalition Executive Council.

Its presidential flagbearer and ODM leader Raila Odinga was named as the Party leader and Council member.

Other Council members included Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, KANU chairman Gideon Moi, NARC leader, Charity Ngilu, DAP-K party leader Wafula Wamunyinyi, Muranga Woman Representative Sabina Chege among others.

Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed is the Secretary General of the Executive Council of the coalition party.

Those in the National Coalition Executive Council (NCEC) include Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Jubilee Party Vice Chair David Murathe and Azimio Executive Director Raphael Tuju.