President William Ruto has dismissed attempts to revive the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, insisting that the opposition alliance poses no threat to his re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking on Sunday after the official opening of the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Pipeline in Embakasi, Nairobi County, Ruto said the Opposition should brace itself for a tough contest in the next general election.
“I am asking the people I am competing with to prepare well. We understand this politics so well,” he stated.
Ruto downplayed renewed efforts to reorganise Azimio, arguing that the coalition lacks political weight without its former key affiliate, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
“Now I hear they are reviving Azimio. We will beat Azimio so early in the morning in 2022,” he said.
“Let me ask you, isn’t Azimio without ODM dead on arrival? Isn't that true?” he posed.
The President’s remarks come amid shifting political dynamics following a working arrangement between the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM.
The two parties are currently cooperating through structured dialogue and parliamentary engagement, although they have not entered into a formal coalition agreement similar to pre-election alliances.
Even as UDA and ODM work together, the Opposition has moved to reorganise Azimio’s leadership in a bid to reassert its relevance ahead of 2027.
In a move that has generated renewed interest in opposition politics, Wiper Patriotic Front leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has been appointed the new party leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
The decision was made under the guidance of coalition chairman and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kalonzo’s appointment follows efforts to revitalise the coalition after the death of its former leader, Raila Odinga, in October 2025.
As the country gears up for the 2027 General Election, the leadership change is being viewed as a strategic reset aimed at reuniting opposition forces.
The Azimio coalition was formed ahead of the 2022 elections as a broad alliance to challenge then-Deputy President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza coalition. However, the outfit experienced internal strain after Raila Odinga entered into a cooperation agreement with Ruto, blurring the lines between government and opposition.
Uhuru chaired a joint meeting of Azimio’s Council and National Executive Committee on February 2, 2026, where the new leadership changes were approved.
Alongside Kalonzo’s appointment, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi was named secretary-general, replacing Junet Mohamed, while former Nairobi town clerk Philip Kisia was appointed executive director.
Kalonzo accepted the role, describing it as a “collective responsibility aimed at national renewal.”
He said Azimio would continue to champion justice, inclusivity and effective governance, urging Kenyans not to lose hope despite prevailing challenges.
However, the leadership changes have already sparked controversy. Newly appointed Azimio Secretary General Caroli Omondi criticised alleged instructions to the Government Printer to withhold publication of the coalition’s leadership changes.
He termed the move “an act of ignorance of the law,” arguing that the legal process remains valid despite delays in gazettement.
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