ODM Responds to Uhuru Over Controversial Azimio Leadership Changes
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has strongly responded to former President Uhuru Kenyatta following recent changes announced within the leadership structure of the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition.
The party has raised concerns over the legality of the decisions, arguing that the process used to make the changes went against the coalition’s agreed rules and procedures.
In a letter dated February 5 and addressed to the Registrar of Political Parties, ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen described the leadership changes as unlawful and inconsistent with the Azimio coalition agreement.
According to ODM, the decisions made during a meeting of the Azimio Coalition Council held on February 2 did not follow the constitutional framework that guides how leadership appointments and removals should be handled within the coalition.
Ong’wen explained that the meeting allegedly introduced significant changes, including alterations to the position of the coalition’s secretary general, without the knowledge, participation, or approval of the ODM party leader.
He emphasized that ODM is one of the principal parties in the Azimio coalition and therefore must be fully involved in any major decision affecting the coalition’s leadership structure.
The party maintained that leadership changes within the coalition cannot be made by a single individual or a small group of leaders acting independently. ODM argued that the authority to appoint or remove members of the coalition council belongs collectively to the leaders of all parties that form the coalition.
The letter stressed that such powers are not vested in one party leader, a section of the leadership, or even the coalition council acting on its own without consultation and consensus.
In supporting its position, ODM referred to Article 6 of the Azimio Coalition Deed of Agreement, which clearly outlines the composition of the coalition council and the procedures to be followed when making leadership changes.
The article provides that the council consists of eleven members, including the secretary general, and that any appointments or removals must be agreed upon jointly by the leaders of the coalition’s constituent parties.
These parties include the Jubilee Party, the Orange Democratic Movement, the Wiper Democratic Movement, and authorised representatives from the Mwanzo Mpya Caucus.
ODM argued that bypassing this collective decision-making process undermines the spirit of cooperation that formed the basis of the Azimio coalition.
As a result, the party has formally requested the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to suspend and freeze the implementation of all decisions made during the disputed meeting.
ODM insists that no changes should take effect until the coalition strictly adheres to the provisions outlined in the Deed of Agreement and all relevant parties are properly consulted.
The dispute comes just days after the Azimio coalition announced a major internal reorganisation, which leaders described as part of a broader political strategy aimed at strengthening the coalition ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The reorganisation saw Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka named as the new Party Leader of the Azimio coalition, while Suba MP Caroli Omondi was appointed as the Secretary General.
Additionally, former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia was named the coalition’s executive director during the meeting chaired by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The latest developments highlight growing tensions within the opposition coalition, as member parties continue to differ on leadership structure and decision-making processes at a time when political alignments are beginning to take shape ahead of the next general election.
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