Wiper party resolves to remain in Azimio, support anti-Ruto rallies
Wiper Democratic Movement party has resolved to remain in the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition, six months after the coalition failed to secure the presidency in the last general election.
Speaking in Nakuru after a two-day retreat on Sunday, February 19, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka affirmed that his outfit will not bolt out of Azimio despite the setback, even as he reiterated that the coalition's presidential candidate Raila Odinga was rigged out in the poll conducted on August 9, 2022.
"We won. Our victory may have been stolen by the IEBC under the direction of Wafula Chebukati and in a compromised Supreme Court but the real court, the people's court is yet to give its verdict," Kalonzo alleged.
Kalonzo claimed that President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration is keen on dividing the Azimio coalition by luring some of its leaders to join the government, adding that Wiper won't entertain the overtures.
"They have openly used public institutions and public resources to entice individual members 'in the name of development' to break ranks with the political parties. They have systematically tried to erode the all gains of multiparty democracy under our Constitution 2010 and take this nation back to a one-party state," Kalonzo said.
"We the leaders of the Wiper Democratic Movement want to emphasize that we will not allow this country to retrogress to the dark days of the one-party state. Despite all their efforts, we remain united and indeed intact."
The former Vice President also said Wiper supports the opposition's series of rallies across the country aimed at resisting the Kenya Kwanza administration policies that include "heavy taxation".
"It's a well-known fact that this government has consistently lied to you and still continues to lie to you to date. Today the mama mboga can not pay rent the boda boda rider can barely feel their motorbikes our farmers' maize are rotting in silos yet this government is hellbent on feeding Kenyans with GMOs. The average mwananchi is being overtaxed and overburdened. Unemployment is on the rise Kenyans are losing their lives to senseless violence and the state of insecurity is alarming. Enough is enough," Kalonzo said.
"Following our two-day retreat we the Wiper Democratic Movement have resolved the following; That we firmly remain in the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Alliance number; and that we fully support the ongoing Azimio la Umoja One Kenya people's barazas."
Kalonzo's declaration comes days after a section of Jubilee leadership disclosed plans to exit the Azimio coalition that brought together more than 20 parties.
The leadership led by Jubilee party chair Nelson Dzuya initiated the process to exit the coalition on February 10 after a meeting with members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Nakuru.
In a resolution reached by the party’s top organ, the political party is expected to hold a special delegates convention to ratify the decision.
This will give a nod for the political outfit to sign a cooperation working agreement with Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
“The National Executive Committee engages with the ruling coalition on the possibility of creating a working cooperation arrangement with it,” the party said days after at least 30 Jubilee MPs met Ruto at State House, sparking protests from another faction of Jubilee led by embattled Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni.
