Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s aggressive push to take over the leadership of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya is fraught with political hurdles.

The former vice president is keen to succeed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as opposition leader in order to strengthen his chances in the 2027 presidential election.

Raila, who was the country’s de facto opposition leader for decades, has announced that he will stay out of local politics as he sets his sights on the chairmanship of the African Union Commission.

Raila could withdraw from the country’s political scene if he secures the post in the AUC in the continental elections in February 2025, as he will be required to be apolitical and impartial.

While Kalonzo’s camp hopes to become Raila’s successor, it has emerged that the Wiper boss must first resolve a number of issues that stand in the way of his bid.

The Wiper leader must secure the support of the majority of Azimio Council members to be promoted to leader of the coalition.

The Azimio Council is the highest decision-making body of the opposition coalition and consists of selected party leaders.

Current members of Azimio include former President Uhuru Kenyatta as chairman of the Jubilee Party and council chairman, and Raila, the leader of the coalition.

Other council members include Kalonzo, Junet Mohamed, the council’s secretary-general, Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, Narc leader Charity Ngilu, former DAP-K party leader Wafula Wamunyinyi, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, former Taita-Taveta MP Naomi Shaban and nominated MP Sabina Chege.

Karua has since written a letter to the coalition urging them to withdraw from the coalition.

Kalonzo is expected to persuade the council to accept his candidacy as chairman, but this effort faces a difficult task as those who would like to put him in office are not members of the council.

The Azimio Council is the body empowered under the coalition party’s statutes to make leadership changes, including the appointment of a new leader.

Some of the politicians who are campaigning for Kalonzo’s installation as Azimio chairman are not members of the council. They include DAP-K party chairman Eugene Wamalwa and Jubilee Party secretary general Jeremiah Kioni.

Both Wamalwa and Kioni supported Kalonzo as coalition leader on the grounds that Raila’s candidacy for the AUC post made his position as coalition leader untenable.

Kioni said that Kalonzo would be the future leader of Azimio and stressed that there was “no doubt about that”.

“Azimio is strong and solid under the leadership of former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka,” said Kioni.

“We have said time and again that we wish the former prime minister all the best in his bid for the office of AUC. When he leaves the stage, the coalition will be under the able leadership of Kalonzo Musyoka.”

Kalonzo declared himself chairman of Azimio on Tuesday when Raila was introduced by President William Ruto as the Kenyan candidate for the AUC post.

Kioni, Wamalwa and Babu Owino, MP for Embakasi East, were present at Kalonzo’s meeting where the Wiper leader was reportedly installed as the coalition boss.

“I am not in the State House because I want to show you that I am the official opposition leader,” Kalonzo said on Tuesday.

While Wamalwa took over the DAP-K party leadership from Wamunyinyi and the same changes were ratified by the party registrar, there were no changes in the Azimio council.

This means that Wamunyinyi continues to be listed in the party registry records as a member of the Azimio Council.

It has been learnt that former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has resigned from his position as Chairman of the Azimio National Executive after being appointed to Cabinet.

Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, who was also appointed to the Cabinet, resigned from his council position to join the government.

Party registrar Anne Nderitu has confirmed that both Oparanya and Joho have resigned from their positions on the Azimio council.

According to Nderitu, Joho and Oparanya were not replaced on the Azimio council.

“Apart from those who have resigned, the leadership of the coalition remains the same as in April 2022,” Nderitu said.

“The Council has the mandate to meet and make changes to the coalition’s leadership structure.”

Kalonzo is said to be planning to run for president in 2027. He is reportedly trying to strike a deal with other political heavyweights, including Vice President Rigathi Gachagua.

The Wiper leader, who first ran for president in 2007, is travelling the country to recruit new allies to support his candidacy for the State House seat after Ruto and Raila began working together.

The poaching of ODM bigwigs Oparanya and Joho into Ruto’s cabinet alongside John Mbadi, Opiyo Wandayi and Beatrice Askul confirmed Ruto’s collaboration with the ODM party.

Analysts say President Ruto may be looking to make a political deal with Raila to improve his chances of re-election in the 2027 elections.

During his tour of Luo Nyanza, Ruto hinted at a possible deal with Raila’s ODM party in 2027.

“I hope you understand these things. We will make some announcements in the future. But let us focus on development for now and make bigger plans later,” Ruto said on Wednesday.