Africa-Press – Kenya. Opposition Chief Raila Odinga is in the horns of a dilemma on how to share the few EALA slots available to his Azimio coalition.
It has also emerged that Gideon Moi’s Kanu party is staking claim to at least one post, further throwing Raila into a tight corner.
Raila is facing tough choice with some members of his family eyeing the two positions which ODM has been allocated.
The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, the Minority side in Parliament, is entitled to four positions at the Arusha-based East African Legislative Assembly.
While ODM has two slots within Azimio, Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper outfit and Jubilee party have one post each.
The ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition has five slots to the regional legislative body.
However, Kanu-a member of the Azimio coalition-is pushing to be given one slot as well.
This has left Raila in a fix amid pressure to relinquish one slot available for ODM party to accommodate Kanu.
Gideon, a key linchpin in Azimio, lost his bid to retain the Baringo Senate seat to William Cheptumo, an ally of President William Ruto.
“It is a delicate balancing act for Raila at the moment because members of his family have applied and some of his party bigwigs want the seats,” said a senior ODM politician.
Speaking in confidence , so as not to be seen as challenging Raila’s authority, the politician said the ODM boss has other regional and coalition needs to take of.
“The coalition interests are serious at the moment and so are the regional concerns….when you look at regions some have not received any position within the opposition coalition,” he added.
Storm is brewing in Kanu amid reports that Gideon, the party chairman, is locked in a fight of his life with his Secretary General Nick Salat over EALA slots.
Under the parliamentary strength allocation criteria, Kanu was not given any slot.
There are unconfirmed reports that Gideon could have silently submitted his name to the Parliamentary Selection Committee.
The Kanu bid has complicated Raila’s arithmetic given that his own daughter Winnie Odinga and his nephew Jarang’o Midiwo are battling for the two slots.
There is also a push to ensure regional balance within Raila’s ODM in line with his national inclusivity agenda.
Kisii and Nyamira counties, which have missed out from ODM minority posts in Parliament, are pushing for long-serving party Treasurer Timothy Bosire.
Bosire is among the opposition bigwigs that have submitted their nomination papers to Parliament.
Some of the big names that have expressed interest in the lucrative EALA assembly include former Kieni MP Kanini Kega (Jubilee) and Kalonzo’s son Kennedy Musyoka (Wiper).
Ex-Tiaty MP Asman Kamama, Salat and former Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat (UDA) have also applied for the nine slots.
Others who have tendered their applications are former Nandi Woman Representative Zipporah Kering (UDA), Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni (Jubilee) and former Taita Taveta MP Naomi Shaban.
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