Kalonzo Orders Wiper MPs to Vote Against ODM Nominees

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has issued a directive to his party's Members of Parliament to reject cabinet secretary nominees from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

Speaking in his hometown of Kyuso in Kitui County, Musyoka explained that this decision is prompted by ODM's announcement that the four cabinet nominees were joining President William Ruto's government in their individual capacities, a move he deems unsanctioned by the Azimio Coalition. He emphasizes that Wiper MPs should vote against the nominees during the vetting process, stating, "I have given directions as the party leader to Wiper Members of Parliament that the names of the four people, when brought to parliament for vetting, Wiper members vote No."

The former vice president expressed particular interest in observing how ODM members of parliament would vote, suggesting that their actions during the vetting process would reveal the truth behind the party's claims. Musyoka argues that if ODM MPs vote in favour of the nominees, it would contradict the party's assertion that the members acted independently. He questions the plausibility of top party leadership joining the government without official sanction, citing the nominations of deputy party leaders Ali Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, as well as National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.

Musyoka's frustration with the lack of communication within the coalition is evident as he laments, "At least I should have been consulted as a leader in our coalition. I did not know." He further argues that Wandayi's appointment should have been a matter for coalition discussion, not solely an ODM decision. The Wiper leader also raises concerns about the potential implications of these appointments. He questions how ODM members could effectively implement policies like the bottom-up economic approach, which the Azimio coalition had previously opposed.

These developments have exposed the fragility of the Azimio Coalition, which was formed to challenge President Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Alliance. The coalition has struggled to maintain unity among its members, and the recent nominations have only exacerbated existing tensions.