The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition is continuing to gather momentum as the August general election fast approaches.
In the most recent development, the Azimio coalition harvested over 100 officials and members of various political parties in Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto’s backyard in the North Rift region.
Rift Valley coordinator and Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos received the new Azimio members at the Azimio North Rift office in Eldoret.
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Tolgos said the defection was an enormous boost for the Azimio coalition and they will help to popularise the party in the region.
He also revealed they are preparing the ground for Raila and his running mate Martha Karua’s reception in the region.
The Uasin Gishu ANC coordinator Saina Ngegu led the exodus into the Azimio coalition, citing Kenya Kwanza’s failure to specify how they will tackle matters affecting the country.
He said they will support the Azimio coalition flag bearer Raila Odinga because he has a well-laid-out manifesto that will improve the lives of Kenyans.
“Together with 24,000 ANC members, we will back Mr Odinga in the August polls because he has a well-laid-out manifesto that will revitalise the economy and improve people’s lives. Azimio has pledged to also slay the dragon of corruption and this explains why we will back him,” Nechu said.
Nechu further said their defection also came as a result of the unclear agreement between the ANC and UDA parties.
He also said they were not privy to the merger between the two parties and only became aware of the same through the media and grass-root mobilisers.
“Despite being members of ANC, we learned through the media the merger of the two parties and as the grassroots mobilisers, we were not amused,” Nechu said.
Furthermore, the defectors said they needed an outfit that brings together the entire leadership on board.
“We need a party that brings the entire leadership on board and our declaration to join Mr Odinga will add him numbers in the General Election,” they said.
The women in the team that defected to Raila’s led by an ANC official known as Pamela Raunga said the Azimio coalition has shown it holds women in high esteem and is all-inclusive.
“By giving a woman a running mate position, we are sure of gender parity in Mr Odinga’s government, and even in the government composition, there exists an outlined structure of how women will be given equal chances,” Raunga said.
Raunga said they will campaign for the Azimio coalition and Raila at the grass-root level to ensure a clear win for their coalition in the August election.
Also present during the welcoming ceremony was the former Minister Sally Kosgei who expressed her optimism in Azimio willing the August election.