Written by
Faridah N Kulumba
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ruling party Jubilee took the first step within party structures in its bid to forge a coalition with the opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Last week Jubilee officials tabled proposals for the coalition with ODM before the party’s National Management Committee (NMC) for ratification.
Joshua Kuttuny, Deputy Secretary General who attended the National Management Committee meeting at the party headquarter in Nairobi, said they discussed a number of issues including coalitions with like-minded parties.
“We discussed a broad-based alliance. We want to engage with the many parties,” he said, adding “Wiper has shown interest, ANC Amani National Congress and ODM are all on board.”
About ODM Odinga
Raila Amolo Odinga 76 year old son of Vice President of Kenya Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, long serving politician and has been the leader of opposition since 2013.
In 2007 he was the main opposition candidate in the presidential election, running against the then incumbent Mwai Kibaki, and 5 years later he placed second against Uhuru Kenyatta.
He made another attempt in 2017 and again the chairman of the electoral body declared Uhuru as the winner which Odinga refused to accept. This outcome was eventually annulled by the Supreme Court and a fresh election was ordered, which was won by Uhuru when Odinga declined to participate citing inadequate reforms to enable a fair process in the repeat poll.
Why forging a coalition?
Orange Democratic Movement deputy party leader, Hassan Joho, revealed that the planned coalition with the ruling party is aimed at transforming the March 9, 2018 “Handshake” the political truce between President Kinyatta and Mr Odinga into a formal pact and to bring together all like-minded leaders for a united country ahead of the 2022 elections.
In an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Joho explained why the party is working with Jubilee and allayed fears the deal would be a merger that will mark the end of the 16-year-old orange party.
However, Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru has said Jubilee needs to address the challenges facing the party in the face of its dwindling fortunes especially in Mt Kenya region.
