23/03/2023
IS UHURU FUNDING AZIMIO?
UDA politicians have on a number of occasions accused retired president Uhuru Kenyatta of bankrolling Azimio One Kenya Coalition activities, including demonstrations, which Raila Odinga announced will henceforth be held twice a week.
Well, the accusation might be far-fetched after all. You see, logistics for organising such demos call for someone with deep pockets. This is particularly so when you consider that most of the politicians accompanying Raila Odinga are without jobs. Knowing Kenyan politicians, it is highly unlikely that they would follow Raila and walk away with nothing in their pockets.
Clearly, someone somewhere is funding Azimio; It could be very well be Uhuru, but there is no evidence to support the allegations.
It will be recalled that the moment William Ruto became president, he embarked on a mission of wooing politicians, who were not originally in Kenya Kwanza, to his side. This was followed much later with Jubilee and a number of ODM MPs paying homage to the president at State House.
This move by Ruto had the effect of consolidating his forces in Parliament, thereby ensuring that government affiliated bills will have easy passage in the House. It also starves Raila of much-needed foot soldiers. This explains why a majority of ODM MPs and all Jubilee MPs are nowhere to be seen in the Azimio rallies and demos.
To pull such a move Ruto had to use money – most definitely tax-payers’ funds – to buy these politicians. The plan was to completely isolate Raila, with the intention of rendering him irrelevant, so that the president can have an easy time in his presidency.
It is therefore frustrating for Ruto, that despite his best efforts to immobilise the opposition, someone somewhere (Uhuru?) has handed Raila a lifeline by funding his activities, including paying the politicians taking part in the demos.
That explains their anger at Uhuru, who they think is bankrolling Azimio.
Clearly, money talks.
