Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga claimed that he cancelled the parallel Jamhuri Day celebrations owing to conflicting schedules on his calendar.
However, insiders close to the Azimio La Umoja party leader and President William Ruto, on Thursday, December 8, alleged that the two leaders reached an agreement to solve the stand-off contrary to earlier reports.
Multiple reports claimed that Raila may have entered a deal with President Ruto that led to the rally’s cancellation.
The sources indicated that the move by the Kenya Kwanza administration to approve plans for the creation of a powerful office of the opposition necessitated Azimio La Umoja’s last-minute change of heart.
According to insiders, the office of the opposition set to be granted to Raila and other Azimio principals would yield great power and benefits.
An annual address to the parliament and leeway to nominate persons to constitutional, statutory commissions are among the benefits of that seat.
Others include receiving funding from the exchequer to facilitate Raila’s operations.
The inside sources further claimed that Ruto’s inside circle met the leader of the minority in the National Assembly, Opiyo Wandayi, who rose to be one of Raila’s key allies after the August 9 General Election.
It was through Wandayi, that the agreement to postpone the rally was reached. Earlier, Wandayi, the Ugunja MP, claimed that Azimio top leaders had active engagements.
“The Azimio la Umoja will not hold the parallel Jamhuri Day rally as planned on Monday, December 12. The cancellation of the meeting has been occasioned by upcoming engagements that will keep the party’s top leaders away,” Wandayi announced on Thursday, December 8,
He also insisted that he was unaware of the alleged meeting and the agreement’s details, as claimed by the inside sources.
“How do you relate a Bill (Office of the Opposition) with engagements? where did they meet?” Wandayi wondered.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairperson Johnson Muthama, in a past interview, defended the decision to create the office of the official leader of the opposition, stating that it would promote the growth of Kenya’s democracy.
“The President himself has repeatedly stated that he wants a strong opposition to check his government, and as a party we share his vision,” Muthama Nation Africa on Friday, December 2.
“I’ve not heard of any approach to our side to support that Bill, but if that request comes to me, I will sanction it because for us to have a fair government that serves its people effectively, the opposition must be allowed, and that’s democracy that we all cherish,” he added, a few weeks before Ruto approved the motion.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, added that the move to cancel the parallel Jamhuri rally arguing that it would enable Ruto to advance his development agenda.
However, some of Raila’s allies are sceptical of the proposal, arguing that it was aimed at keeping Raila at bay.
“It will be used to try and tame Raila. If it comes to pass, we will have no other option but to follow what the Constitution says. I believe in the streets as they are more effective than any office. The streets advocated for the 2010 Constitution. Public participation has changed a lot of matters in the country,” Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o, stated while on Citizen TV on Friday, December 9.
Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, has not yet issued a statement regarding the alleged deal. Other Azimio Principals are yet to respond to the reports too.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE