Uhuru Kenyatta Makes Surprise Move, Resigns as Azimio Chairperson,Reveals Why He Is Stepping Aside
Former President **Uhuru Kenyatta hands in his resignation as Chairperson of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition weeks after passing on the torch at the Jubilee Party to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
Kenyatta broke the news in a letter dated Monday, October 5, saying it was kind of a given that he would be stepping down once he’d handed over the reins at Jubilee.
The old President however made it clear that just because he was no longer in the formal leadership seat, it didn’t mean he was abandoning ship or leaving the journey Azimio is all about.
Uhuru Kenyatta Resigns From Azimio Leadership
Kenyatta says his resignation came into effect straight away after he’d wrapped up his handover at the Jubilee Party.
“Now that the Jubilee Party handover is official I’m writing in to formally tell you that I’m stepping down as leader of the Azimio La Umoja Coalition – right from the beginning,” Kenyatta said.
He made it clear that this move had to be seen as part of the whole process of refreshing those democratic institutions rather than him bailing on the coalition.
“This decision is not a break from the common goal we’re all working towards but just a natural step in making sure our democratic institutions stay fresh and on track”
This is the latest step in Uhuru’s winding down of his formal political roles after he gave up his position at the helm of the Jubilee Party.
Uhuru Says He Is Not Leaving Azimio
Even though he’s stepping down as leader, Kenyatta says he’s not leaving the coalition altogether.
He talks about Azimio as a key alliance created to get all sorts of different voices heard in Kenya while still letting individual parties keep their independence.
“Coalitions aren’t just temporary arrangements for people to get along, they’re long term promises to stand by each other”
Kenyatta adds that even though he’s stepping down as leader, he’s more than happy to see the coalition still has strength and depth even without him.
“I step down with a heart full of thanks for the trust you’ve placed in me, and I really believe in the strength of this coalition”
Kenyatta also promises to still be around to offer whatever support or advice he can to the coalition as and when they need it.
“I’m still part of the Azimio family, always ready to roll up my sleeves and help when needed, and more than happy to offer advice and guidance when asked”
Why Uhuru Handed Over Jubilee Leadership
Kenyatta’s exit from Azimio was preceded by his earlier handover of the Jubilee Party leadership to Fred Matiang’i , an act that made sense given a court ruling that came down the line.
The High Court had weighed in on the law governing what retired presidents like Kenyatta are allowed to do in a party, and ruled that they can’t hold office beyond six months after they leave the State House.
The caveat was that retired presidents can still be members of parties and get involved in politics in other ways which made it a pretty clear call for Kenyatta to step aside.
Matiang’i, who was deputy party leader, then took over as the new head of Jubilee.
Fred Matiang’i Takes Over Jubilee Party
After the leadership change, Matiang’i moved on to take over the Jubilee Party leadership, a move that got a lot of attention in the wake of the court ruling.
He told everyone that he was going to work with other like-minded leaders, and get to work on rebuilding the party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Jubilee handover was actually kind of a big deal, and it ended up playing a big part in Uhuru’s decision to ditch his role in the bigger coalition.
Azimio Rebrands as Ukombozi Alliance
This all comes at a time when the opposition coalition is undergoing a big overhaul , the coalition that used to be called Azimio la Umoja has now been rebranded as the Ukombozi Alliance (TUA) with Kalonzo Musyoka in charge as Party Leader.
The rebranding is all part of their restructuring as they get ready for the 2027 General Election.
Kalonzo has been trying to make a distinction between the Party Leader and the Chair of Council roles within the coalition.
Kalonzo Says There Is No Leadership Vacuum
When Uhuru stepped down Kalonzo was asked if it had created a leadership vacuum but he reckons that’s just not the case.
Kalonzo pointed out that the Party Leader and Chair of Council are two separate jobs with different jobs to do.
He said “There’s no vacuum at the helm of Ukombozi and no change in the party’s leadership, direction or programme”
He explained that the Party Leader looks after the organisational stuff, while the Council Chairperson has a separate role.
Kalonzo also confirmed that Uhuru is still a member of the coalition and is more than happy to offer advice when its asked for.
What Uhuru’s Resignation Means for the Coalition
So even though Uhuru has stepped down from his formal role in the coalition, this doesn’t mean he’s pulling out of the alliance altogether.
He’s actually said that he remains a committed member and is more than happy to support the coalition from the sidelines.
This all comes as the coalition is getting used to its new identity as the Ukombozi Alliance, and gets itself in order for the 2027 General Election.
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Uhuru Kenyatta Makes Surprise Move, Resigns as Azimio Chairperson,Reveals Why He Is Stepping Aside
