Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is spearheading efforts to rejuvenate the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition as a united front against President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election. However, this move has encountered significant opposition within the political landscape.
The main contention revolves around a provision in the Azimio constitution that automatically grants the coalition leader the presidential nomination. Following Raila Odinga's exit, Uhuru appointed Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as coalition head, a decision that many critics view as bypassing established procedures and unfairly positioning Kalonzo for the presidency.
This appointment has sparked disagreements among various parties, including Martha Karua's People's Liberation Party, which argues the move ignores recommendations from a technical committee on coalition leadership reforms.
Meanwhile, key political figures such as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the Linda Mwananchi group led by Edwin Sifuna have declined to join Azimio at this stage, preferring to develop independent party structures and candidates. Gachagua has emphasized the importance of candidates earning support organically rather than through internal deals.
Other opposition leaders, including Justin Muturi and Peter Munya, have accused Gachagua of pressuring them to dissolve their parties into his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). Jubilee Party's Jeremiah Kioni has also questioned the haste to revive Azimio amid feelings of marginalization by some leaders.
Despite these challenges, Kalonzo Musyoka has engaged in talks with Gachagua and Eugene Wamalwa to resolve differences. Under Uhuru's guidance, the coalition is attempting to rebrand itself by incorporating new parties like the Democratic Party and bringing influential figures such as Fred Matiang'i into its leadership council.
Azimio officials are also in discussions to include personalities like David Maraga and are considering a name change aimed at appealing to younger voters and attracting fresh alliances.
Political analysts observe that while the revival could bolster Kalonzo's position, its success depends heavily on his ability to unify skeptical opposition leaders under a cohesive umbrella ahead of the 2027 elections.
