The Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM) has dismissed a letter claiming that the party had withdrawn from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
A letter bearing ODM’s identity features including a logo and a letterhead format used in making its official communication surfaced on social media.
The letter also had a stamp purported to be proof that it had been received by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
Contained in the letter was information alluding that the ODM had in a meeting resolved to withdraw from the deed signed with other partner parties in the coalition.
In addition, the letter was addressed to Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu and copied to Azimio affiliate parties including the Wiper Democratic Movement Party and Jubilee.
Of concern, however, the author of the letter misspelled Ann Nderitu’s name typing her second name as Neritu.
In reaction to the letter, ODM labeled it as fake stating that, “Only FAKE minds, FAKE things.”
Also Read: Uproar After Azimio Insider Asks Leaders to Leave the Coalition
Despite occasional infighting within the coalition, no party has come out publicly to declare its exit from the coalition’s pact.
NARC, Jubilee lock horns with ODM over dialogue report
Shortly after the release of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, members of the coalition differed on the final recommendations and hence posed a unity test.
NARC Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua was among leaders who went public to voice their dissatisfaction with the report noting that it had not addressed some of the concerns affecting Kenya.
Former Ndaragwa MP and the Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni also expressed his discontent.
Also Read: Storm in Azimio as Prof Makau Demands Kioni’s Resignation
In their response, persons close to ODM Leader Raila Odinga including lawyer Prof Makau Mutua affirmed that the door was open for any discontented person to leave.
“He’s repeatedly said the talks are a “waste of time.” He must resign unless he’s a hypocrite,” Prof Makau Mutua said in response to Kioni’s remarks on the report.
In a subsequent statement, Makau said, “Azimio isn’t a forced marriage. Please leave if you can’t support the NADCO report.”
However, speaking in a function in Murang’a County on Thursday, December 14, Kioni affirmed that the Jubilee Party would stick with Odinga.
But cases of fake documents and letters are not new especially in the current political environment.
In early December, a fake newspaper excerpt purported to be from the Financial Times caused a stir online after the information claiming that the US government was out to investigate the trail of the Eurobond went viral.
