By Peter Ochieng

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)  party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has accused members of the Jubilee Party of what he terms as over-promising Raila Odinga.

Odinga was Azimio La Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate. The formation brought together over 10 parties, among them ODM and Jubilee.

Sifuna said that ahead of August 09, 2022, members of the then-ruling Jubilee party promised to deliver 40% of the Mt. Kenya votes to Odinga’s presidential basket.

In the end, Sifuna, the Nairobi County Senator says Odinga managed 490, 000 more votes in Mt. Kenya than in 2017, but the count was way below the 2.4 million promised by Jubilee foot soldiers in the region.

“True! Baba got 490K more votes in Mt. Kenya than in 2017. But the promise was 40% or 2.4 million votes from the mountain. Jubilee overpromised and under delivered whilst also extracting serious concessions including a Mt. Kenya running mate, Nairobi Governor and over 50% of government,” twitted Sifuna.

Under the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya arrangement, ODM Produced the presidential candidate, Mt. Kenya provided the running mate – Martha Karua, while Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka was to land the Prime Minister slot if the coalition formed the government.

In Nairobi County, the Jubilee Party under the leadership of former President Uhuru Kenyatta produced the gubernatorial candidate – Polycarp  Igathe, while Wiper delivered the running mate – Philip Kaloki.

Igathe lost to UDA’s Johnson Sakaja.

Sifuna’s strong reaction came after media reports indicated that a section of Jubilee diehards had put behind Odinga’s presidential lose to support President William Ruto.

The leaders said they were negotiating for the Mt. Kenya region’s stake in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government.

“The debt Raila wanted to be paid has been paid. For the first time, Raila got the highest number of votes in Mt. Kenya which he has never gotten and it is now time to move on,” said Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni.

It is still not clear whether Jubilee will cut ties with Azimio, going forward.