Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has resigned as Azimio la Umoja Council Chairperson with immediate effect, Kenyans.co.ke has established.Uhuru headed the council, which was responsible for the governance, policy direction, and strategic planning of the coalition, which has since rebranded to The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA).Kenyans.co.ke has learnt that Uhuru tendered his resignation in a letter dated October 5 and addressed to the coalition's party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, and copied to the National Steering Committee, just 15 days after stepping down as Jubilee Party leader. In the letter, Uhuru said, "Following the official handover of the Jubilee Party leadership, I am writing to formally resign from my leadership position within the Azimio La Umoja Coalition, effective immediately.""We have received President Kenyatta's letter of 5th October 2026, in which he resigns from his leadership position within the coalition with immediate effect. He tells us that his decision is not a departure from our shared political journey, and he reminds us that a coalition is not a temporary alliance of convenience but a covenant of conviction," Kalonzo said in a statement shared with this publication.Uhuru officially relinquished his leadership of the Jubilee Party on September 22, handing the reins to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.He announced plans to step down on September 15, following a High Court ruling by Justice Lawrence Mugambi that enforced Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which bars retired presidents from holding political party office more than six months after leaving office.At the time, Uhuru said he would remain a member and senior adviser of the Jubilee Party.Kenyans.co.ke has also learnt that the coalition is considering DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and Siaya Governor James Orengo for senior leadership roles in the restructured alliance, with Gachagua having been proposed to succeed Uhuru as council chairperson.Sources have also indicated that Orengo could take up a co-chair position alongside Gachagua as the opposition bloc reorganises ahead of the 2027 General Election.The coalition, which has rebranded as the Ukombozi Alliance, is seeking to expand its membership and bring together opposition parties that were part of the 2022 Azimio formation alongside newer political formations.At the moment, Kalonzo serves as the coalition's party leader, while People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua is the deputy coalition leader. Suba South MP Caroli Omondi is the Secretary-General.The expanded council includes Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang'i, Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya and Devolution Empowerment Party leader Lenny Kivuti.The coalition has also resolved to invite the Umoja na Maendeleo Party, led by Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, the People's Democratic Party, led by Omingo Magara, and the Democratic Party, led by former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi. It is unclear whether DCP will join the alliance and whether or not the Linda Mwannchi faction will also fold into the Ukombozi Alliance, although Uhuru echoed calls for unity in opposition last weekend.
This page contains an attributed headline and the preview text supplied through the publisher’s RSS feed. Copyright in the original reporting belongs to Kenyans.co.ke.
