Editor's Review

All parties are expected to remain in the Azimio camp for at least one year after the date of registration

With Saturday, April 9, being the last day for all political coalitions to submit their agreements at the Registrar of Political Parties, the Azimio la Umoja camp led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga has not been left behind.

In a leaked document named Declaration of Support for Mr. Odinga which was seen by the Nation, the coalition has sought to lock its members to remain inside the Azimio camp for at least one year after the date of registration.

No party will be allowed to leave Azimio for one year, a move that will allow its presidential candidate Raila Odinga to organize his government should he win the August general polls.

Any party that will intend to leave Azimio is expected to notify the coalition (90-day notification) and will only leave three months after the general elections.

The deal also ensures that the presidential candidate and their running mate will run on Azimio la Umoja ticket, with the rest of the aspirants allowed to run on their respective parties.

The deal was signed by all the parties that have since joined hands with Azimio la Umoja camp including the new One Kenya Alliance allies that recently joined the outfit.

The zoning of regions has also been done away with, with every party inside Azimio being free to field their candidates in any part of the country.

According to sources, apart from the 'Declaration of Support for Mr. Odinga' document, another document dubbed 'Power-Sharing Matrix' is also expected to be deposited at the registrar of political parties.

Although the power-sharing matrix document still remains a top-secret, sources indicate that this was signed by ODM, Jubilee, and Kalonzo's One Kenya Alliance.

{Azimio - One Kenya Alliance Principals at a past function. Photo: Courtesy}

However, the agreement was on Friday amended to include another faction consisting of the three Ukambani governors.

This was after the team led by Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua threatened to bolt out of Azimio after being left out, forcing Raila to convene an urgent meeting with the three.

It is reported that each of the factions will get at least a quarter of the government if Raila is elected as president come August 9th.

The top executive positions expected to be shared equally among the four factions include cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, diplomatic positions and state corporations.

The entry of the three governors into the matrix caused another turbulence in the coalition, with Kalonzo's Wiper party threatening to quit on Friday, April 8.

"There are things that some people wanted to sneak in. They want parties to join as individuals and we have refused. The agreement that was signed by the three principals is for a three-legged stool and we cannot agree to any such amendments" stated an OKA official.