Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has reaffirmed that the party remains part of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, despite the recent political developments involving President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Spice FM on Tuesday, Kioni emphasized that Jubilee’s commitment to Azimio is backed by a formal agreement, which was submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties and the Speaker of the National Assembly.
“We in Jubilee signed that agreement, and we are in Azimio to date and will remain in Azimio until we get into another coalition agreement when that time comes,” he stated.
Kioni’s remarks come in the wake of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ruto and Raila last Friday, signaling a potential political realignment. However, Kioni criticized the process, arguing that Raila should have involved all Azimio-affiliated parties instead of engaging on behalf of ODM alone.
“That would have been very important because that has happened all along. How I wish Ruto had engaged all parties in the coalition,” Kioni noted.
With ODM appearing to align with the government and other parties distancing themselves from Azimio, Kioni asserted that Jubilee would step in to take leadership of the opposition. He maintained that Kenyans are looking for a credible opposition force, and Jubilee is ready to provide that role.
“Kenyans are in the opposition, and the people who are being scrutinized more are those in the opposition because that is where hope is,” Kioni said, underscoring the importance of holding the government accountable.
Kioni also accused Raila of abandoning his political allies without warning, despite their collective efforts in the 2022 General Election.
“We traversed the country campaigning and mobilizing votes for Raila. We were all over as Azimio looking for votes. Even if you have decided to leave, why not inform those who have been with you?” he questioned.
As political dynamics continue to shift, Kioni’s stance highlights the ongoing internal tensions within the opposition and the strategic positioning of Jubilee in the evolving political landscape.
