Plans for Sunday’s launch of Azimio La Umoja coalition in top gear
Key politicians are finalising plans for the unveiling of the Azimio la Umoja coalition on Sunday, People Daily has learnt.
The event will be preceded by several National Delegates Conferences (NDCs) by parties supporting ODM party leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid to be held between Thursday and Saturday.
The two main parties behind the Azimio la Umoja coalition, ODM and Jubilee, will hold their NDCs on Friday and Saturday respectively during which they will formally endorse Raila’s presidential candidature as required by law.
The Sunday event, which is being coordinated by a coterie of seasoned politicians drawn from various parts of the country, will be held at the Kamukunji Grounds, Nairobi.
Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Board chair Ndiritu Muriithi confirmed yesterday that the event will bring together all the parties supporting Raila’s candidature.
“This will be a big event. This will be the launch of Azimio after the NDCs. I would expect all the frontline leaders under the Azimio la Umoja to attend,” he said.
Uhuru’s diary
Muriithi, who is the Laikipia governor, said all those who support Azimio were welcome to attend the event.
People Daily has established that Raila will lead the event which will be attended by among others, governors Ann Kananu (Nairobi), Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega).
Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Chief Executive Elizabeth Meyo could not confirm or deny whether President Uhuru Kenyatta will attend the Sunday event.
“It will be our first joint function as Azimio partners. We cannot confirm if the President will attend because his diary is managed elsewhere, but we look forward to hugely successful rallies,” she said.
In the last few weeks, Raila’s team has been holding multiple rallies across the country simultaneously to popularise Azimio.
In Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties, Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya and Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati are coordinating the Azimio campaigns.
In Busia, Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’ and former Funyula MP Paul Otuoma are in charge while in Kakamega and Vihiga counties, governors Oparanya and Wilbur Otichillo and Vihiga Senator George Khaniri are leading the campaigns.
In Nyanza, governors James Ongwae (Kisii), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu) Dagoretti MP Simba Arati, Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Ben Momanyi (Borabu MP) are in charge of the Azimio campaigns.
In Mt. Kenya East, the arrangements are being coordinated by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya while at the Coast, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho is being assisted by governor aspirant Suleiman Shahbal, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and senator Mohamed Faki.
In Northern Kenya, Mandera Governor Ali Roba, and Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani are in charge while in Rift Valley, Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Alex Tolgos and Nakuru Town West MP Samwel Arama are coordinating the events.
In the lower Eastern, governors Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) are coordinating the preparations for the Sunday event.
