ODM Formally Joins Azimio La Umoja, Endorses Raila As Presidential Candidate

ODM leader Raila Odinga’s bid for presidency continues to gather pace as efforts to bring major political players in the country continued to endorse his candidature.

This as he announced they will have a joint Azimio la Umoja rally on Sunday, that will likely cement his position as the coalition’s flag bearer.

ODM’s National Executive Council (NEC) has formally endorsed Raila as a presidential candidate and mandated him to negotiate with other like-minded parties.

The ODM NEC, in a statement released by party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, proposed an amendment to the party Constitution to include the disability league and the Council of County Coordinating Committee Chairs as organs of the party.

The NEC also proposed that ODM formally Joins the Azimio La Umoja coalition and endorses the candidature of Raila Odinga for presidency.

As ODM NEC was making the decision, Raila was attending the Cyrus Jirongo-led United Democratic Party National Delegates Council, that was also attended by One Kenya Alliance co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Gideon Moi (KANU)

While speaking at the NDC, both Kalonzo and Moi reiterated the need for structured dialogue before any coalitions are formed.

“We want a coalition that is well structured, that will last for long and have fruits, a coalition that is well meaning and when presented to the people, will give them hope,” Moi said.

While giving clear indications that they might join hands with Azimio la Umoja, the OKA co-principals said there was no chance that they would join the Kenya Kwanza brigade led by Deputy President William Ruto.

“We in OKA believe in unity and when I hear what Azimio have been saying, it looks like we are talking the same language of national unity. But we are stressing honesty in engagement, structured dialogue, no holds barred style of thing,” Kalonzo said.

“This time round we will get this equation right so that his country will be forever free and leadership will be seen for what it is.”

Speaking at the UDP NDC, Odinga also expressed hope that this time they will get it right and take the leadership of the country and better the lives of Kenyans.

The former Prime Minister hit back at the Kenya Kwanza coalition saying they have a history of wrecking the country.

“This time round we need to get this thing right, with our unity, unless we do that, we will be fighting the same enemies we fought 50 years ago,” Odinga said.

“We have not formed Azimio yet, after Jubilee and ODM’s NDCs all the parties will come together to form Azimio, and so I welcome UDP, KANU, Wiper and all the like-minded parties to Azimio.”

Odinga later attended the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya-led Party of National Unity’s delegate’s council that also endorsed his candidature for the presidency.