Names of top ODM leaders suggested to join Cabinet in bid to silence Gen Z revolt and tame rebellion from Kenya Kwanza’s Mt. Kenya leaders
By THEDISPATCH.DIGITAL REPORTER
President William Ruto was Wednesday mulling forming a Government of National Unity with Opposition leader Raila Odinga to tame the ongoing youth-led protests and save his regime from what were said to be disappointed Mt Kenya politicians.
Speaking to THEDISPATCH.DIGITAL on Wednesday morning, a well-placed source said that the President was considering bringing in politicians from Raila’s ODM party in an effort to stabilize his government, take off the pressure from the Gen Z and deflate the movement that has threatened to to bring down his government. This was the inspiration for the talks held on Tuesday morning, which resulted in Raila Odinga announcing that “they” had decided on dialogue as they was forward after what he said were “intense discussions”.
Although Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka walked away from the ensuing discussions, Raila is said to have gone ahead to suggest names of people that should go into the proposed Government of National Unity, which will be formed, in name at least, between the governing Kenya Kwanza coalition and opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition.
Among the names suggested were;
Ali Hassan Joho – to take the Agriculture docket currently held by Mithika Linturi. Joho is the immediate former governor of Mombasa, which did not record any significant improvement in the quality of life during his tenure and has been associated with soft life. His presence in the GNU will represent the Coast region.
Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya – to take the health portfolio held by Susan Nakhumicha who will be fired. Her sacrifice will be compensated for by the presence of Oparanya in the GNU. Oparanya, like Joho is a Deputy Leader of ODM and former Governor and was a Cabinet Minister in Mwai Kibaki’s government.
Other positions wee reserved for Kalonzo Musyoka and at least one of his lieutenants, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Jeremiah Ngau Kioni. However, it was not clear if they would be offered or take up those offers as they had rejected Raila’s decision to join the government in talks.
“The only thing delaying the announcement is the decision by those leaders not to support the calls for dialogue, making it seem like a Luo and Odinga affair,” said our source. As this report was being filed, it was not clear if the Azimio leaders that had not publicly pledged to embrace dialogue would be included in the GNU, but reactions by Raila’s followers, especially politicians from Luo Nyanza, indicated that the revolt against Ruto was over for them. There were also indications that ODM was ready to go it alone even if the other partners in the coalition did not join the GNU.
It is instructive that Ruto has been experiencing difficulty in firing some of his Cabinet members, whose blood the citizens have been baying for, because is deeply indebted to them for his political rise. Some of these Cabinet members include Moses Kuria, Susan Nakhumicha, Penninah Malonza, Mithika Linturi and Alfred Mutua. But he could use the excuse if a GNU to clean it up and remove them from his Cabinet on the pretext of bringing the nation together and calming the rebellion.
It is also understood that the new arrangement with Raila could give him the courage and political muscle and numbers he needs to carry out the impeachment of his Deputy, Rigathi Gacagua, with a view to giving the position to an ODM nominee. Although Raila was said to be keen on the job if it fell vacant, it was tentatively thought it would be offered to Homa Bay’s PR-savvy governor, Gladys Wanga. But there was a hitch as some of the developments will depend on the outcome of next February’s contest at the AU, where Raila is running for Chairman. . This partly explains why Wanga flew all the way from Homa Bay to attend the presser at the KICC, where Raila’s position on talks was made public.
Meanwhile there were fears the Gen Z would be infiltrated by Government agents and end up being misrepresented or mot represented at all, at the proposed talks. One of the issues arising was who would be nominated to represent the Gen Z at the talks proposed by Ruto, the multi-sectoral forum, and there were fears they would be selected from among followers and relatives of politicians, which would compromise the whole struggle.