Uhuru To Resign As Azimio Chairman

Former president Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga. Photo Courtesy

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta plans to step down from his position as head of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance.

In an interview, deputy chair of the Jubilee party David Murathe stated that the Azimio council would soon call a meeting to approve his resignation.

The former president is said to have resigned in order to concentrate on the East African peace project he is leading.

“He will publicly retire from his position as the Azimio council's chairman during a meeting that will take place very shortly. It goes without saying that a bus cannot be driven by two drivers at the same time. Jakom (Mr. Odinga) is the only driver of this vehicle, which is now known as the Azimio,” Murathe claimed, adding that Uhuru will now turn the reins over to Raila and the Azimio systems.

He is now above local politics. Everything will be a part of the Azimio system and Jakom going ahead. Jakom is currently Azimio's general leader, and there is no doubt about it, according to Murathe. The council will meet to decide who fills the position.

To be eligible for all the benefits that come with being a former head of state, Kenyatta will legally have to retire from active politics and give up his position as Azimio la Umoja council chairman.

A retired Head of State is prohibited by law from serving in a leadership position for more than six months after leaving office as President in any political party.

The decision comes at a time when Uhuru's Mount Kenya troops appear to be switching their allegiance to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, which would likely be a major blow to Raila Odinga's camp.

Many Jubilee members would become political refugees as a result of the former President's resignation as party leader.

Unverified sources claim that the government has officially written to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to ask if Uhuru is still the chairman of Azimio.