Azimio to hold Parliamentary Group meeting

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga and Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya will hold a Parliamentary Group meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday, November 29, to discuss matters of national importance in the wake of what it terms unpopular decisions made by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration.

The Azimio parliamentary leadership and ODM leader Raila Odinga had a closed-door session to set the agenda of the meeting which is meant to rally the lawmakers to support its initiatives inside and outside Parliament.

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi revealed that the meeting will discuss the government's plan to import Genetically Modified foods into the country and the intended removal from office of four IEBC commissioners among other issues.

"We will be discussing the skyrocketing cost of living, and increased insecurity across the country and come with far-reaching conclusions on how we are going to handle the Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration that has been taking Kenyans for a ride," said Mr Wandayi.

He said the Azimio leadership will also take stock of the coalition party's performance in Parliament and look into ways of strengthening it further and keeping at bay Kenya Kwanza from raiding its members.

In attendance were National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed, Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina, Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang, Pokot South MP David Pkosing, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi and Prof Makau Mutua who was Raila's Presidential Campaign Secretariat Spokesman.

The Parliamentary Group meeting comes after the Azimio leadership met governors in Naivasha last week in a bid to keep their foot soldiers intact as it prepares to take on the government.

Last week Raila said he will not allow President William Ruto to take the country back to the dark days and vowed to push back what he described as a path of impunity and revenge by the government.

"Since the conclusion of the 2022 election circle we have done our best to give Ruto time and space to heal and unite our land, we have given so much space that Kenyans are thinking we have given up the fight, unfortunately, Ruto seems to think we have surrendered," said Raila.

Raila said Kenyans have witnessed a swift, steady and dangerous re-emergence of the capture of state institutions by the Executive with the Judiciary being the first one to willingly give, with a struggle currently being witnessed in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

He regretted that although the country was facing monumental challenges caused by drought and hunger, the government was keen to add more pain to citizens by introducing unpopular policies.

The Azimio leader said the injustice being inflicted on IEBC commissioners Juliana Cherera, Irene Masit, Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyang'aya, if allowed to proceed, will mark the beginning of massive pushback against Ruto and those who think like him by the people of Kenya.

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