President William Ruto has described efforts by former President Uhuru Kenyatta to reinvigorate the Azimio coalition as unlikely to succeed, insisting the opposition remains weak and divided.
Speaking to supporters outside the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Pipeline in Embakasi, Nairobi, after a church service, Ruto argued that his victory over Azimio in 2022 remains decisive.
“Now I hear they are reviving Azimio. We beat Azimio so early in the morning in 2022,” the President told the crowd, highlighting the coalition’s past defeat. He stressed that without the support of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Azimio lacks the organisational and leadership strength needed to challenge his administration.
“Azimio without ODM is dead on arrival. Isn’t Azimio without ODM dead on arrival? Isn’t that true?” Ruto said, pointing to ODM as the central pillar of the coalition’s influence and voter base.
The comments came in the wake of leadership changes in Azimio spearheaded by Uhuru. At a recent council meeting, Uhuru replaced the late Raila Odinga with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as the coalition’s leader.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi was named secretary-general, taking over from Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, pending approval by the Registrar of Political Parties.
ODM, however, rejected the reshuffle, claiming it violated the Azimio Deed of Agreement. In a letter to Registrar John Lorionokou, ODM executive director Oduor Ong’wen said the party was neither consulted nor involved in the changes, highlighting the coalition’s internal tensions.
Ruto argued that these divisions further weaken Azimio’s ability to pose a credible challenge. He also attacked the opposition’s reliance on tribal politics, calling on voters to prioritise performance and competence over ethnicity.
“Let me ask you, the people of Nairobi, when you are electing leaders, are you electing them because they have worked or because of their faces? Is it work or face? Is it work or tribe?” the President asked, urging citizens to focus on results rather than identity politics.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who joined Ruto at the rally, echoed the President’s sentiments, warning that politicians who stoke division would not be accepted in the city. “Those are leaders who belong to the village, and we shall not accept them in Nairobi,” Sakaja said.
During the church service, Ruto also outlined his administration’s economic achievements, reassuring Kenyans that efforts to reduce the cost of living are on track. He said the country is now reaping the benefits of earlier difficult economic decisions, including stabilising key macroeconomic indicators.
“We made sacrifices earlier. Today, we are beginning to reap the benefits. Housing is going on, health is going on, and our roads are going on. We can now reduce taxes, and that is how we will transform our nation,” the President said. He added that reforms are being implemented deliberately to ensure lasting impact.
“One step at a time, one programme at a time. I am very confident that we have set our eyes on moving Kenya from a Third World country to a First World country,” Ruto concluded, reiterating his vision for national development.
