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Organisers set for Azimio la Umoja forum in Nakuru

Monday, January 3rd, 2022 00:00 | By
ODM leader Raila Odinga speaking during the launch of Azimio La Umoja roadmap in Nakuru. Photo/PD/Emmanuel Wanson

Jeremiah Kiplang’at

A major Azimio La Umoja meeting is planned for Nakuru County this month to firm up the initiative’s support in the Rift region and lay out programmes for the area this year.

 Rift Valley supporters of the initiative fronted by ODM leader Raila Odinga are putting up a strategy to spread the Azimio gospel and net more followers in a region perceived to be solidly behind Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential bid.

 Those organising the meeting told People Daily it will be a springboard for many more to come that are geared towards  strengthening Azimio in the vast region. 

Their plan is to sell the unity message promoted by Raila under the new movement and deliver more votes to him than in the last two elections after he declared his fifth attempt at the presidency in the August polls. 

 Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos confirmed the meeting saying his Nakuru counterpart Lee Kinyanjui, who presently leads the Azimio movement in the region, will host it.

 “The meeting will bring together all the leaders who support Azimio in the Rift Valley.

We want to use it to solidify the movement in the region. My colleague Lee will host us in Nakuru,” the governor said.

 He said the meeting will set the pace for planned activities that will be around popularising Raila’s presidential bid and counter the DP’s allies plan to lock him out of the region. 

“Azimio is gaining strength every day in the region. Before the Azimio Nairobi Convention our opponents told us we did not have people supporting it in the region.

But we took so many Azimio supporters to Kasarani and they have now realised the movement is growing everywhere across the country,” Tolgos added.

The meeting is also to address the leadership wrangles that have cropped up since the Kasarani meeting.

Presently, Tolgos is in charge of the Azimio activities in the North Rift while Kinyanjui oversees Central Rift.

Identify South Rift leader

For now, the team has yet to identify a leader to be in charge of the South Rift but Tolgos said there was no cause for worry saying that will be addressed during the meeting.

“We do not have a problem with leadership. We do not have a lot of time left before the elections so we want to make sure we start the year in the right way.”

Tolgos and Kinyanjui have emerged as the trusted custodians of the Azimio Initiative in the region where the DP is banking on to offer a solid foundation in his own quest for presidency.

 Following his solid support for the movement, Kinyanjui, who is serving his first term, has crept ahead of many to emerge as a serious contender to be Raila’s running mate as the search for the best individual for this role continues eight months to the elections.

Tolgos at the same time is serving his last term in office and aims to play a significant role in Raila’s government if he wins august. 

 West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo and Pokot South MP David Pkosing are also expected to play a significant role in Azimio in the coming year after ending 2021 with a firm declaration of their support for the movement.

The duo has formed a party, Kenya Union Party, they said will be fully behind Azimio henceforth.

 Saboti MP Caleb Amisi also said Azimio was getting stronger in the region adding those who support it will not relent in their quest to get more people to join it.

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