NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 6 – Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Leader Raila Odinga has denied claims of imminent defections of governors within the coalition following increased cooperation with President William Ruto.
During his tour in Mombasa County Friday where he met Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) delegates in the county, Odinga pointed out that there was nothing wrong with elected leaders to work in collaboration with Ruto’s administration.
The ODM leader vehemently refuted talks that the opposition coalition was slowly being weakened following the cooperation of the leaders with the government.
“Working with National government does not mean that the governor is defecting to UDA or Kenya Kwisha. Governors ought to work with the national government,” Odinga said.
“When you see Abdulswamad go to StateHouse, it’s because he has been given the permission by the party to do so,” he stated.
Five Azimio governors who have pledged to support President William Ruto include Kakamega’s Fernandez Barasa, Vihiga’s Wilber Ottichilo, Kisii’s Simba Arati, Mombasa’s Abdulswamad Nassir and Trans Nzoia’s George Natembeya.
Odinga stated that with interrelated functions between the National government and the devolved units there was bound to be correlation between the President and the governors from either coalition.
“A governor attending the President’s meeting doesn’t mean that he has defected. I want the media to understand this and therefore that notion should stop immediately! Azimio is not splitting,” Odinga noted.
Recent meetings by President Ruto in Azimio strongholds politicians from has been seen as a scheme to weaken the opposition or a 2027 plan.