Mombasa, Kenya – The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Dr. Oburu Oginga has announced that the party will formally seek to exit the Azimio la Umoja coalition, declaring the alliance “on its deathbed.”
Speaking in Mombasa ahead of a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, Oburu dismissed recent leadership changes within Azimio, led by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, arguing that ODM, as the coalition’s majority party, was not consulted.
ODM’s Position
Oburu asserted that ODM had already distanced itself from Azimio and would now commence the formal exit process.
“This thing called Azimio…we are Azimio. The strongest party of Azimio is ODM. There’s no one who can decide without consulting ODM. You cannot purport to appoint a new leader in Azimio while excluding ODM,” he said.
“Azimio was dead when ODM left it. We left it a long time ago, and it’s only a formality that we have not performed and we will do it very soon. We’re going to exit that organisation called Azimio.”
Future Engagements
Oburu expressed confidence in steering ODM into negotiations with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) under a broad-based arrangement. He referenced the coalition’s 10-point agenda, pledging to ensure its implementation.
“Our party must keep growing from strength to strength. We have our partners, UDA, and we’re continuing to work hard to fulfill the arrangements that brought us together,” he remarked.
Azimio Reshuffle Dispute
The announcement comes days after Azimio’s leadership reshuffle, which saw:
- Kalonzo Musyoka appointed coalition leader
- Caroli Omondi named Secretary General
- Philip Kisia appointed Executive Director
Former Secretary General Junet Mohamed and former Executive Director Raphael Tuju were removed.
ODM quickly dismissed the changes in a letter to the Registrar of Political Parties, stating that the party leader was neither informed nor involved.
“It is our considered position that the ODM Party Leader, an expressly named and key constituent party under the Deed of Agreement, was neither informed nor involved in the purported changes. Consequently, the meeting and its resolutions were ultra vires… and are therefore null and void,” the letter read.
Conclusion
ODM’s declaration signals a major realignment in Kenya’s political landscape. As the party prepares to formalize its exit from Azimio, attention now shifts to how ODM’s collaboration with UDA will reshape alliances and influence the country’s governance trajectory.
