The Azimio la Umoja coalition party has terminated the appointment of Junet Mohamed as the parliamentary group leader in the National Assembly following a major leadership shake-up of the coalition.
In a statement on Monday, March 9, the coalition removed Junet from his position and appointed Suba South MP Caroli Omondi to the position effectively.
“The Meeting further resolved to terminate with immediate effect the appointment of Junet Mohamed as the Leader of the Azimio Coalition Parliamentary Group and in the National Assembly and appointed Caroli Omondi to be the Leader of the Azimio Coalition Party Parliamentary Group and in the National Assembly with immediate effect,” the statement read.
The statement signed by Azimio coalition leader Kalonzo Musyoka also announced the removal of several other prominent politicians from its leadership structures after holding a joint meeting of the coalition council and the National Coalition Executive Council.
The statement noted that the affected leaders had ceased to be members of the coalition council and the national coalition council after accepting public appointments or joining rival political formations.
Those removed from the coalition’s council include Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy Hassan Joho, nominated MP Sabuina Chege, Abdi Noor Omar, and Junet Mohamed.
The coalition also announced changes within the Azimio National Coalition Executive Council, removing several members, including CSs Wycliffe Oparanya and Opiyo Wandayi, MPs Adan Keynan, David Pkosing, Mishi Mboko, Abdul Haji, Isabella Wangechi Githinji, Caroline Wanjiru Karugu, and Solomon Kuria.
According to the statement, the coalition resolved that the individuals had forfeited their membership in the councils by virtue of their appointment to public office or having joined competing political coalitions.
“The meeting resolved that the following persons have, by virtue of their appointment to public office and/or having joined competing political coalitions, ceased to be members of the Azimio Coalition Council and the Azimio National Coalition Executive Council,” the statement added.
The coalition, however, said it will soon unveil replacements for the affected positions as part of what it described as an expanded coalition structure.
The changes came weeks after Kalonzo took over the leadership role of the coalition following the demise of its former leader, Raila Odinga.
Those removed from positions within the coalition are members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party who have recently been affiliated with President William Ruto.
Despite their removal, ODM had declared Azimio inexistent, noting that it would formally initiate the process to leave the coalition officially.
