OKA is wrong halting Azimio

Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua says One Kenya Alliance (OKA) is wrong for writing to the Registrar of Political parties to stop the registration of the Azimio-OKA coalition party.

In his statement on Tuesday, Mutua said the alliance was causing exclusivity through their demands instead of uniting Kenyans.

“I have seen the statement issued yesterday evening by OKA about their reservations with the registration of AZIMIO coalition party. From the onset, I wish to state that our overarching objective is to unite the entire country so as to accelerate economic development. In this regard, the unity of political parties is key. I’m therefore surprised that OKA are talking about inclusivity on one hand but advocating for exclusion of over 20 political parties who signed up to form AZIMIO,” said Mutua.

Mutua urged OKA and all partners in AZIMIO to become more accommodative to any other political outfit wishing to join AZIMIO.

“I would urge OKA and all our partners in AZIMIO become more accommodative, not only to mwanzo mpya as the fourth leg, but to any other political outfit that wishes to join AZIMIO. We must not lose sight that we are looking for victory and politics is about numbers,” stated the governor.

Adding that: ” We were all working well together in the spirit of umoja before the document that OKA is insisting be reinstated. The document was creating a power base of only three parties – Jubillee, ODM and Wiper, excluding all other parties of AZIMIO from democratic participation in AZIMIO”.

The Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader said the document was laced with phrases and jargon that would have led to zoning, giving preference to the three parties and excluding the other parties from effectively participating in the general elections.

Adding that they endorsed Raila Odinga via a democratic process of delegates and that the seat of his running mate should also be processed through a democratic process that brings everyone together, for acceptability and effective motivation for campaigning.

The One Kenya Alliance which brings together Wiper Party’s Kalonzo Musyoka, United Democratic Party (UDP’s) Cyrus Jirongo and Senator Gideon Moi-led KANU is seeking to have the registration of the coalition halted immediately until certain issues are ironed out.

Among the isuses is Railas Odinga’s potential presidential running mate, which they allege plans to shortchange them.

The parties are demanding that the running mate be selected as the Deputy Party Leader as is required under the Law.

They further want the members of the coalition Council under the Coalition Political Party to be increased from the initial seven (7) to eleven (11).

Mutua says from the initial exclusive 7 representatives to the summit, the number of participants were added to become 11, in the spirit of inclusivity.

” Phrases that would promote zoning were removed and the issue of Running Mate was left open for a future date where a democratic process would be used to identify who would add value and also be able to work for Kenyans when Raila Odinga formed the next government,” added Mutua.

The Governor said anyone opposed to expansion of AZIMIO and wants only a three legged stool of three parties to be in charge and disregards everyone else and must have plans of blackmail and entitlement.

“I cannot find any other reasons for demanding that others be excluded and only a special outfit that creates an “Azimio La Utenganishi” be recognized. This political selfishness is the problem that we have faced in this country – of leaders and opportunists who whine and blackmail all the time and who put their personal interests and not those of Wananchi first.I urge H.E. Raila Odinga and the other players in AZIMIO not to bow down to blackmail and extortion but to stand firm in championing for democracy, inclusion, politics of transformation, wealth creation, peace and stability in Kenya,” said Mutua.