PNU part officials set for meeting to decide Azimio fate

By Peter Ochieng

Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya has called for a meeting to decide the fate of the party in the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition.

The former Meru governor said members of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) will meet on Thursday this week to make a decision on whether to leave the coalition or stay put, about a week President William Ruto roped four officials of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) into his cabinet, as he continues to craft a broad-based government.

The four are ODM chairman John Mbadi, Minority Leader in the National Assembly in the National Assembly James Opiyo Wandayi, and ODM party leadersAli Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya.

Mbadi was nominated Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Finance, Wandayi CS for Energy, Joho minister for mining, and Oparanya CS for cooperatives, causing jitters among Azimio member parties.

“We are meeting on Thursday to decide our relations with Azimio,” said Munya.

ODM is the largest party within the Azimio coalition followed by Wiper, and Martha Karua’s Narc Kenya which has since severed links with the coalition.

According to Munya, ODM cannot be in the government and in the opposition at the same time. “They (ODM) have said they want to be in the government and for some of us who want to be in the opposition, we must bolt out so that we can continue fighting for the people of Kenya.”

“The way our constitution is structured is such that there has to be two sides, there are people in government and people supposed to be in the opposition, you cannot be in both places,” he added.

As for the PNU party, Munya said they believe they can play their role better when they are in the opposition.

“And we are telling our brothers who are with us in Azimio to also make that choice. If they decide to join the government, let them join fully so that it is clear who is playing where, right now there is confusion.”