OKA's Collapse: One Kenya Alliance's Unity in Jeopardy Ahead of August Elections ¶
By Charles Wasonga
January 2, 2022
The unity of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) appears to be in jeopardy ahead of the August 9 general elections, with several members defecting to Azimio la Umoja, a rival coalition led by Raila Odinga.
The latest defections include Ayub Savula, the deputy leader of the Amani National Congress (ANC), and Oku Kaunya, a Teso North MP, who announced their departure from OKA and joined Azimio la Umoja on Saturday.
"I am leaving OKA with immediate effect. I am joining Azimio la Umoja under the leadership of Baba," Savula said in a statement at a rally in Bukhungu, Kakamega County.
However, Kaunya clarified that he would remain a member of ANC despite his decision to support Odinga's presidential bid.
"I have taken this decision after being asked by Baba Odinga. I am calling upon Musalia Mudavadi to join me in this journey to ensure Baba becomes the next President," Kaunya said.
More than 10 elected officials from ANC and Ford Kenya have also defected to ODM during the rally, with Governor Wycliffe Oparanya welcoming them into the party.
The cracks in OKA's unity began to show in December 2021, when MPs from ANC, Wiper, and Ford Kenya allied with ODM and Jubilee to defeat their Tangatanga counterparts in a vote on a bill to amend the Political Parties Act.
Only Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga (Ford Kenya) voted with the Tangatanga faction on the bill.
OKA's decision to ally with ODM and Jubilee on the bill was seen as a betrayal by Mudavadi, who had opposed the bill.
"The proposed amendment is a ploy to undermine OKA's unity. It is a ploy to ensure that our presidential candidate is chosen quickly, not for our benefit, but for the benefit of our competitors," Mudavadi said.
Analyst Martin Andati said the defections were a clear indication that OKA's unity was fragile.
"Not only have some OKA MPs decided to join Azimio la Umoja, but some have also decided to support Raila Odinga's presidential bid. This is a clear indication that OKA's unity is fragile," Andati said.
Another analyst, Javas Bigambo, said the infighting in OKA was a sign that the coalition was unlikely to produce a presidential candidate.
"This is a clear indication that OKA's unity is fragile. It is a sign that the coalition is unlikely to produce a presidential candidate," Bigambo said.
