Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga is jetting back to Kenya today to meet his supporters and chart a way forward after facing back-to-back defeats in the political arena in the hands of his political student-turned nemesis President William Ruto.
Today, the Azimio la Umoja coalition will convene a public Baraza at Kamukunji grounds, protesting against the recently enacted Finance Bill 2023, which President Ruto signed into law on Monday.
The opposition has in the last few months been handed sounding defeats in its quest to fight for relevance since losing the elections in August last year.
The passing of the Finance Bill in Parliament last week and the failure to impeach Siaya Deputy Governor yesterday emphasised the numerical strength that Ruto has over Raila.
Oduol survived the impeachment attempt with 27 senators voting against the Senate Special Committee report that recommended his removal, while 16 senators, primarily from Azimio, voted in favor of his ouster.
Senators aligned with Ruto openly supported the deputy governor during the proceedings
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi declared, “The net effect of this vote is that pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33(8) of the County Government Act and Standing Order 87 of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate has failed to remove from office by impeachment William Oduol, the Deputy Governor of Siaya County. The Deputy Governor accordingly continues to hold office.”
Away from parliament, The ODM chief is encountering unforeseen resistance from his own troops, some of who ignored his calls for collective responsibility and are openly representing Ruto’s interests in the political arena.
Additionally, Raila has found himself in a dilemma following the stalled bi-partisan talks, which among other issues sought to address the reconstitution of the electoral agency, the high cost of living as well as the audit of election servers.
Already Ruto has put in place a panel for the recruitment of the new commissioners, leaving Mr Odinga with limited breathing space.
The Jubilee party too is facing a leadership crisis, with one wing led by Nominated MP Sabina Chege and her East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) counterpart Kanini Kega, pulling to the President’s side, while the other led by former Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah still sticking with former president Uhuru Kenyatta.
But even with all these challenges facing Raila, the Azimio coalition is adamant that it should not be ruled out yet.
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi has issued a warning to the Kenya Kwanza government, urging them to brace themselves for a significant and unstoppable mass protest following the scheduled Kamukunji meeting on Tuesday.
Wandayi made this statement during the ODM party delegate meeting in Nyatike Sub County on Monday, emphasizing that the Azimio team would embark on a determined mass action that would persist until their demands are met.
Wandayi stressed that they could not idly stand by while Kenyans suffer due to the burdensome taxes imposed by the government. He declared that the people of Kenya would resist any further attempts to increase their tax burden.
“Our journey at Kamukunji is about to commence… Much has been said, but at this juncture, we must seek guidance from the people. Depending on their response, the impact of this journey could be transformative, altering the political landscape of our nation,” asserted the Minority Leader.
ODM party chairman John Mbadi echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that excessive taxation would not aid the Kenya Kwanza government in raising funds for national development.
“The Kenya Kwanza government is encroaching on the salaries of civil servants, and this will lead us down a treacherous path. No economy can flourish by burdening its citizens with exorbitant taxes,” Mbadi remarked.
Both leaders urged ODM party officials at the grassroots level to uphold the party’s strength, ensuring it remains the most formidable political force in the country.
