Azimio: No Interviews Anymore

Written by on May 5, 2022

During the running mate interviews, Azimio backtracked and requested that hopefuls submit their names.

When searching for a deputy for Raila Odinga, the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya alliance has retracted from carrying out interviews among those who wish to deputize Raila Odinga.

Seven members of Odinga’s running mate selection panel are now requesting affiliated parties to nominate candidates, instead of showing up for interviews as previously instructed.

According to a statement from panel chairman Dr. Noah Wekesa, any member of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance who desires to propose a candidate for consideration as Deputy President must do so by April 5.

Candidates being considered for the deputy president’s role under an Odinga administration have been instructed to appear before the panel from Wednesday, May 4 through Tuesday, May 10.

The panel’s secretary, Elizabeth Meyo, on Sunday, May 1, underlined that the selection and vetting process should be finished by May 10, following which Odinga will disclose the victorious candidate to the public.

Those expected to be questioned include NARC Kenya Party head Martha Karua, Narc Party leader Charity Ngilu, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Governors Ali Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru) and Alfred Mutua (Machakos) (Machakos).

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has declared that he would not attend the running mate vetting process, describing it as “demeaning” since he should be a clear candidate to the job.

“I want to notify all Kenyans that I will not attend the mentioned procedure. I find the whole thing insulting to my person and will therefore disassociate myself from it,” he was on Wednesday cited by the Standard as saying.

Kalonzo’s statements generated a lot of debate from lawmakers, with Azimio’s adversaries in the Kenya Kwanza alliance criticizing the coalition’s interviews as humiliation to Kalonzo.

DP Ruto, in a tweet on Wednesday morning, said Kalonzo “deserves some decency and respect”, echoing the Wiper boss’s prior remarks that he would not show himself for vetting.

“Though we are rivals, to put HE Kalonzo to such degrading ‘interview’ is impunity. We must collaborate to abolish the culture of political dishonesty, the hallmark of certain politicians,” stated Dr. Ruto.

“Whatever the circumstances every leader deserves some dignity and respect. Heshima si utumwa,” he said.

Presidential hopefuls have till May 16 to submit their running mates to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) (IEBC).


Reader's opinions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



Current track

Title

Artist

Background