Registrar of Political Parties to Mutua, Kingi: You can't leave Azimio!

Efforts by Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) and Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) to exit the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Alliance have hit the snag.

The Registrar of Political Parties says it has no mandate to degazette the coalition and sanction the withdrawal of the two parties.

MCC is headed by Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua while PAA belongs to his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi.

In letter to Anne Nderitu, the Registrar, PAA claimed its National Executive Council had been unable to access the coalition agreement or understand its terms.

“The PAA NEC in a meeting held on 25th April 2022 resolved that the ratification of the agreement signed on 5th April 2022 be and is hereby declined,” a statement from the party read in part. “Consequently, the intended membership of PAA party in Azimio coalition party howsoever ceases forthwith.”

In her response, Nderitu told PAA that her office has no mandate to degazette PAA's inclusion in the coalition.

"Azimio is already a registered coalition political party in terms of section 7(7) of the Political Parties Act (Registration), Regulations 2019...Hence the registrar has no mandate to degazette PAA as per your request save for where due process outlined in the coalition agreement has been followed."

Nderitu notes that PAA and MCC had even provided all the required documents that proved they were members of the coalition.

"That PAA, as one of the constituent parties, duly executed the coalition agreement annexing the requisite documents including former PP19 declaring that the information submitted is true and correct," Nderitu said.

On MCC, she added: "MCC party, as a constitutional political party, executed the coalition agreement annexing the requisite documents including form pp19 declaring that the information submitted is true and correct."

Azimio-OKA comprises of 26 parties who include Jubilee, ODM, Wiper, KANU, NARC, NARC-KENYA, Muungano Party, Maendeleo Chap Chap, Democratic Action Party, and the United Democratic Movement.

Its flag bearer in the August presidential race is Raila Odinga.