Nothing Like That: ODM Party Dismisses Letter of Withdrawal from Azimio

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The Orange Democratic Movement ODM Party has flagged as fake a letter purporting that the Raila Odinga-led party has withdrawn from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.

The party said via its X platform Thursday night that the letter is the work of “fake minds”.

“Only fake minds, fake things,” it said.

The fake letter claimed that the ODM had decided to withdraw from the Deed of Agreement that established the Azimio coalition after a National Executive Committee meeting.

Drafters of the letter addressed to Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu claimed it was signed by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and copied to all constituent parties of the Azimo coalition.

Azimio under Raila’s leadership is composed of the ODM, the Jubilee Party, Narc Kenya and KANU as the main parties.

It was formed on March 12, 2022, to build a formidable political alliance whose main aim was to clinch the presidency at the August 9, 2022 general election.

However, sibling rivalry saw a break-away Jubilee Party faction led by EALA MP Kanini Kega unsuccessfully attempt to withdraw from the coalition following a National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Jubilee Party meeting held on June 6, 2023.

“Pursuant to Articles 33.1.1 & 2 of the Party Constitution as read together with Article 22.1. of the Agreement for Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition dated March 12, 2022, Jubilee Party hereby gives notice to withdraw from the Deed of Agreement for Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition,” Kega said.

The plan by the Kega faction to withdraw from the Opposition coalition was, however, dealt a blown after the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal issued orders barring the group from convening a National Delegates Convention (NDC) to ratify the NEC resolution to exit Azimio.

This was after the other half of the former ruling party led by embattled Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni obtained conservatory orders restraining all parties from issuing any communication or making any public representations on behalf of the Jubilee party.

Kega’s faction had scheduled the NDC for July 22 to ditch Azimio at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

The Kioni faction argued in its petition that were the Kega faction to be allowed to proceed with the NDC, it would render all the other cases filed in court redundant.

“The 3rd respondent is in utter disregard of the spirit and text of court orders by taking actions, issuing correspondences, convening meetings and purporting to pass a resolution that seeks to pre-empt the judgment of this tribunal in instant complaints and thereby undermine the authority of the tribunal,” the Uhuru Kenyatta-led faction told the tribunal.

The Desma Nungo-led tribunal agreed with the petitioners and stopped the intended NDC, technically halting the Jubilee Party’s exit from Azimio.

“And further staying communication dated 6th and 13th June 2023 issued by the 3rd Respondent and any other communication and/or decisions that may have been issued and/or taken by any of the parties hereto on behalf of Jubilee party during the pendency of these proceedings,” the tribunal said.