Political analyst Edward Kisiang’ani questions decision to create advisory council to pick Azimio running mate

By  Joshua Cheloti A decision by the Azimio One Kenya Council to create an advisory committee that will pick the coalitions’ running mate has started to elicit mixed reactions. The council chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta held its first meeting on Thursday and resolved that the advisory committee be formed, with a mandate of selecting suitable candidates for the coalitions deputy president position. But according to political analyst Edward Kisiang’ani, the move is part of a wider plot to sideline Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka. Kalonzo has laid claim to the running mate post, even though there have been suggestions that ODM leader Raila Odinga should pick his deputy from the Mount Kenya region. In a tweet, Kisian’gani seemed to suggest that after the advisory committee was set up, the next move would be how to see the former Vice President out of the coalition. The political analyst allied to the Kenya Kwanza Coalition further noted that the circles Azimio One Kenya Coalition is taking its members in the issue of running mate post are clear confirmation that being in the same team with the former Prime Minister is tiresome. “Kuliendaje huko KICC leo? @skmusyoka ashapangwa ama bado? They have created another Advisory Council to advise the Technical Committee to advise the Azimio-OKa council to advise.......! Soon it will be #kalonzomustgo! Guys, playing in Raila's team is impossible and tiresome,” Kisiang’ani tweeted. The Azimio coalition has been fighting multiple internal wrangles, the major one being a fight for the running mate slot. While Kalonzo and his allies insist the post is their reserve, there have been suggestions that picking a running mate from Mount Kenya is the only way Raila can make inroads in the vote-rich region. Currently, multiple opinion polls have suggested that Deputy President William Ruto enjoys a majority of support across the region – despite President Uhuru Kenyatta's endorsement of a Raila presidency. Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua and former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth have been fronted as possible running mates in the coalition that has at least 26 political parties.