NAIROBI, Kenya – Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has emerged as the biggest loser following President William Ruto’s move to nominate Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s key allies to his Cabinet.
President Ruto has nominated ODM deputy party leaders Ali Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya to Mining and Cooperatives dockets, respectively.
Others nominated include ODM national chairman John Mbadi (National Treasury) and National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi (Energy).
Recently, a section of opposition leaders led by Kalonzo has maintained that they will not join President Ruto’s Cabinet.
This is after it became evident that Raila’s Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition party ODM faction was warming up President Ruto in the latest developments to form a broad-based government.
Raila had previously made a haste retreat and reportedly rescinded his initial position to form a government of national unity with Kenya Kwanza after days of negotiations.
Instead, Raila tabled fresh demands that he wanted the government to address, including those advanced by the Gen Z protesters, before any talks could be held with the government.
Some of the Azimio leaders, including Kalonzo, Jeremiah Kioni (Jubilee), Martha Karua (Narc Kenya), and Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), who had disowned Raila’s deal with President Ruto, insisted they had no intention of signing a pact with the government.
“We are solid in the opposition, and we will not join the Kenya Kwanza government,” declared Kioni.
Earlier, the Kalonzo-led faction issued a terse statement distancing Itself from the alleged deal between the Kenya Kwanza administration and Raila’s camp.
“Should any of our members join Cabinet, then we shall disassociate ourselves with the decision,” Kalonzo said moments after President Ruto unveiled his first batch of Cabinet nominees.
Kalonzo insisted that they won’t hold any talks with President Ruto’s administration, urging Azimio members not to engage the government.
It is not clear whether Odinga, having been backed by Kalonzo for 3 times, will throw his support behind him, in future elections.
