Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has expressed skepticism about the value of recent meetings held by Azimio leaders Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K) following the opposition’s integration into the government.
In an interview on Daybreak, Senator Onyonka criticized the recent press briefings from these Azimio meetings as a “waste of time,” suggesting that their relevance has diminished since the ODM joined the government. He urged Kalonzo and Wamalwa to forge their own path now that Raila Odinga has agreed to collaborate with President William Ruto to form a broad-based government.
“My honest feeling is that these statements about the issues is a waste of time. The horse has bolted. ODM has joined government. I don’t see why Kalonzo or Wamalwa still hold meetings,” he said.
“I feel so frustrated because what is it that they are asking for and some of these political marriages you can’t force them. It has reached a stage that the party leader is going his way. I think it’s time the other gentlemen need to figure out where to go.”
Responding to queries on whether Azimio would play its oversight role as opposition, Onyonka reaffirmed that he would hold the government to account, regardless of the political allegiance.
“I don’t see why people want to split the configuration. ODM is in government. I’m finding it difficult as an oversight officer to see what to do with the government. I will oversight Mbadi, I will talk about what he does if he’s wrong and I will congratulate him if he does what is right.”
His comments come amid speculation about deepening divisions within Azimio regarding the formation of a broad-based government. Some Azimio leaders have argued that ODM should separate from Azimio and join the government, questioning Raila Odinga’s commitment to the opposition.
However, ODM leaders have defended their party leader, rejecting any efforts to coerce Raila into endorsing others for Azimio leadership.
“We will not tolerate any further attempts to use Raila Odinga as a shield, to pressure him into endorsing anyone at this stage, or to blame him for the leadership failures within individual Azimio parties,” ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga stated on Monday, August 19.
