Kalonzo, four Azimio constituent parties allege betrayal

Sharp divisions have emerged within the Azimio coalition with four constituent political parties declaring that they will not work with the government.

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka made the announcement moments before a State House address where President William Ruto unveiled a board-based cabinet with the nomination of the first batch of 11 cabinet secretaries.

Kalonzo said a section of the constituent parties namely the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM), Jubilee Party, DAP-Kenya Party, Party of National Unity (PNU), and Narc-Kenya, will not participate nor support Kenya Kwanza-led Broad-Based Government of National Unity.

The rift between Kalonzo and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga escalated after the latter supported calls for national dialogue to end the current crisis following protests to push for better governance.

Raila who is also the ODM party leader with majority members in the coalition comprising 23 parties has conspicuously been absent in key meetings convened by the party leaders.

Kalonzo has termed the move as a betrayal. “We shall not join for the straightforward reason that such actions are a betrayal of the ideology, values, and tenets of both our coalition party and our constituent parties. Should any of our members opt to join the proposed Kenya Kwanza-led Broad-Based Government of National Unity, we shall not be a party to that decision”.

The President revealed that further consultations are ongoing after which he will announce more names in due course.

“I have started the process of forming a new broad-based cabinet to assist in driving the urgently needed and irreversible transformation of our country… he said.

“While the events of the past month have caused tremendous anxiety, concern and uncertainty, the crisis has presented us with a great opportunity, as a nation, to craft a broad-based, and inclusive citizen coalition for national transformation and progress, made up of Kenyans from all walks of life,” he added.

Six ministers who had been dismissed have made a comeback.