Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has called for the disbandment of the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition party, pointing to growing internal divisions and the coalition’s inability to achieve its intended goal of capturing power.
In a post on his X account on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Kaluma emphasized the need for a new direction.
Kaluma noted that Azimio la Umoja, which was established ahead of the 2022 general elections, has failed to achieve its primary objective of securing power.
He highlighted the significant disagreements among coalition members on critical issues. Given these circumstances, he believes it’s time for the coalition to dissolve, allowing each party to focus on its strategy to gain political power.
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As a member of the ODM, the largest party within the coalition, Kaluma underscored the importance of reclaiming positions that ODM had previously relinquished to its coalition partners.
“It’s time to dissolve Azimio. We didn’t succeed in capturing power as a pre-election coalition. We’re not united on key issues. Let’s go our separate ways and find our path to power. As ODM, the largest minority party, we need to reclaim the positions we ceded to other Azimio parties,” Kaluma stated.
Kaluma’s remarks come in the wake of ODM’s firm response to what they see as continued attacks on their party leader, Raila Odinga.
On August 19, 2024, ODM’s national chairperson, Gladys Wanga, criticized other parties within the Azimio coalition for what she termed as unfair treatment of Raila Odinga, particularly after five former ODM officials joined President William Ruto’s government.
“We are here as a party to express deep concerns about statements made by some of our partners in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, who have questioned ODM’s role and commitment as an opposition party,” Wanga said.
She affirmed that ODM remains dedicated to its role in opposition despite the recent appointments, clarifying that there is no formal coalition agreement between ODM and Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza.
Wanga defended ODM’s decision to allow these officials to join the government, asserting that they did so in the national interest, not as coalition partners with Kenya Kwanza.
“The basis of that doubt is the fact that just four former officials of this party joined the Kenya Kwanza administration to help stabilize the nation. We wish to reiterate that our party leader, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, has made it clear—there is no agreement between ODM and Kenya Kwanza that makes us joint partners in government,” she reiterated.
She added, “No responsible leader or political party should celebrate the downfall of the nation. When the president called on these members, the party responded to the nation’s distress call and allowed them to serve the people of Kenya.”
On August 18, 2024, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka reaffirmed his position as the main opposition leader following ODM’s decision to cooperate with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Despite this, ODM emphasized that it remains the primary opposition force within the Azimio coalition, thanks to its substantial representation in parliament.
ODM reiterated that leadership in parliament is determined by the number of representatives, not government alignment. The party also stressed that its members have borne the brunt of anti-government protests, with many killed, injured, or maimed while opposing Kenya Kwanza’s policies.