-
Azimio la Umoja movement suffered a blow after former Member of Parliament Kabando wa Kabando formally applied to leave Narc Kenya Party headed by Azimio principal Martha Karua.
In a statement on Tuesday, February 7, the outspoken politician who represented Mukurweini Constituency from 2007 to 2017, noted that he no longer identified with the politics within the opposition coalition including that of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
He, therefore, applied to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) seeking to have his name struck from the Narc Kenya membership list but failed to reveal his next political move.
“As a matter of conscience and principle, I have instructed ORPP to deregister me, Hon. Kabando wa Kabando, from Narc Kenya.
Narc-Kenya Party Leader and Azimio Principal Martha Karua Martha Karua
File
“I believe in leadership teamwork and honesty. I detest chicanery and corruption. I thank Martha Karua and wish her well in Azimio ventures,” he explained.
He further noted that he had backed the duo, Raila and Karua, during the August 2022 General Election but felt that their priorities had since changed after losing in the elections.
“My family, confidants, allies, friends, and colleagues know of my tenacious support and trust in Martha Karua to compliment Raila Odinga in our elusive quest to rekindle a national rainbow to crash graft and impunity. I regret we’ve lost it. Hopefully, we’ll reconnect better soon.
“I’ll continue to boldly & independently, or in league with like-minded souls, play my patriotic part to keep President Ruto’s increasingly rogue regime in check. Sadly, neither ODM nor Narc Kenya is acting institutionally in this endeavor. Cultistic politics is bad for democracy,” maintained Kabando.
Kabando joined Narc Kenya in March 2022 noting that the party’s ideologies resonated with his goal of becoming a Nyeri Senator at the time.
In August 2022, however, the politician lost the seat to the incumbent, Ephraim Maina, and vowed to carry on with his public works while conceding defeat.
“Our Nyeri First campaign is on pro-people policy issues: basic needs equal basic rights. Voters have spoken. It’s my turn to concede, which I do. Congrats to all winners. As always, I remain actively involved in matters of public interest,” he noted at the time.
In 2017, the politician, who was then a member of the Safina Party, failed to defend his Mukureini parliamentary seat and lost it to the newcomer Anthony Gathiaka Kiai.
ODM Loss
Kabando’s departure came just hours after nine lawmakers, including Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, held a meeting with President William Ruto hinting at their changing political allegiance.
Other MPs who attended the State House meeting included Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Tom Ojienda (Kisumu), Shakeel Shabir (Independent – Kisumu Town East) and Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo).
Some of the lawmakers, however, defended the visit explaining that they had gone to defend funding for projects in their constituencies.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga reads the Order of Service at the ACK Memorial Cathedral in Mombasa on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
Abdulswamad Sheriff
crash corruption
