Peter Munya, the leader of the Party of National Unity (PNU), has expressed serious concerns about a decision made by Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
Munya revealed that Raila's recent discussions with the Kenya Kwanza government went against previous agreements made with other leaders within the coalition. This has caused significant discord among the coalition members.
Speaking on Spice FM, Munya voiced his discomfort over Raila Odinga's move to engage in talks with the Kenya Kwanza government. According to Munya, this decision, which he termed as the "donation of members of ODM into the Kenya Kwanza government," was made without consulting other coalition principals.
Munya highlighted that there had been prior discussions among the Azimio leadership, where it was unanimously decided that joining the government was not the best course of action at this time.
"The key event that has made us quite uncomfortable is the one we are calling the donation of members of ODM into the Kenya Kwanza government,” Munya said.
He elaborated that the coalition had previously discussed the possibility of joining the government but had agreed that it was not appropriate since many of the issues they had been protesting about were still unresolved.
Munya emphasized that any collaboration with the government should be legally established. He drew parallels with a past agreement made with former President Mwai Kibaki, which provided a clear framework and guaranteed that the coalition's objectives would be addressed.
"We reached a point where there was an agreement that if it ever became necessary for the opposition to join the government, it had to be a government established by law, like the one we joined with Kibaki, where there was an accord that clearly outlined what the government was going to do," Munya explained.
He stressed that without such a framework, joining the government would merely serve as a lifeline for the current administration, which is under considerable pressure. Munya reaffirmed that the coalition believes in continuing its role in the opposition to push for the unresolved issues and necessary changes.
Regarding the Party of National Unity's (PNU) stance within the Azimio la Umoja coalition, Munya clarified that the party remains committed to the coalition for now. He mentioned that the party's National Executive Council (NEC) had engaged in extensive discussions about their position and ultimately decided that staying within Azimio was the best course of action.
"PNU is still in Azimio. I had given my opinion that if things continue as they are, then we shall consider leaving. I invited our NEC to look at whether we should stay or leave, and after a long discussion and consultation with other parties that form the coalition, we agreed that it may not be opportune to leave at this point. We are stronger together," Munya remarked.
He noted that if PNU were to leave, it would be more strategic to do so collectively with other parties within the coalition. This approach would ensure that they continue to have a significant impact in pushing for the desired changes from the opposition side.
The decision by Raila Odinga to engage in discussions with the Kenya Kwanza government has exposed fractures within the Azimio la Umoja coalition. Munya's revelations indicate a deep sense of betrayal felt by some coalition members, who believe that the move undermines the unity and collective decision-making that has been a cornerstone of the coalition.
Munya pointed out that the coalition had always been driven by a shared vision and common goals, particularly in addressing the issues that have been the subject of numerous demonstrations led by Raila Odinga and the younger generation, often referred to as Gen Z.
"The issues we had been pushing during demonstrations led by our leader and the ones led by Gen Z had not been resolved," Munya stated.
He stressed that the coalition's decision not to join the government was based on the unresolved grievances and the need to continue advocating for the changes they believe are necessary for the country.
"There was a consensus not to join the government," Munya affirmed.
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