Tension has gripped the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition after majority of elected leaders skipped Raila’s first anti-Ruto rally in Nairobi.
Sources within the coalition have told The Kenya Times that its leader Raila Odinga is furious that most of the members of his ODM party gave the event a wide-berth.
The absence of majority of Azimio leaders at the Kamukunji rally seems to have opened a lid on the disquiet in the coalition over the call for rallies.
Kanu chairman Gideon Moi a key pillar of the Azimio coalition and ODM deputy party leader Hassan Joho were among the notable big guns who missed the rally.
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Betrayal from leaders
Makadara MP George Aladwa, regretted that some politicians had decided to take Raila for granted when he needed them most.
“There is no way people can forsake Raila at his hour of most need, it was sad that those who have been looking for him for endorsements could not attend the rally,” he said.
“We received a lot of apologies from so many leaders who claimed that they had prior engagements. I suspect that they are fearing showing up because they are quietly working with Ruto’s government.”
Most leaders who failed to show up for the meeting are said to have started sending apologies from Tuesday evening alleging ‘prior engagements’.
Notably, all 22 governors elected on the Azimio partner party tickets including ODM missed the rally on Wednesday with reports indicating they had been invited to the event.
Jubilee party allied politicians also snubbed the meeting except for Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni.
Jubilee vice chairperson David Murathe-a key ally of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta-did not show up at Kamukunji.
In Nairobi, county woman representative Esther Passaris, Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi and Dagorreti North MP Beatrice Elachi did not show up as well.
A handful elected leaders who showed up for the meeting were from Raila’s Luo Nyanza backyard.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua were also present at the meeting