Azimio la Umoja will be registered as a movement next week, following the enactment of the Political Parties Bill by President Uhuru Kenyatta, ODM leader Raila Odinga has said.

Speaking at Orange House on Thursday after receiving defectors from the ANC and Ford Kenya, Raila said Azimio la Umoja would be registered in a movement in the coming days.

He said that after registration, the team will embark on a serious campaign to sell our common program for the country ahead of the August 9 elections.

“I’m glad you joined ODM who are a member of the new big band we’re forming called Azimio la Umoja and it will be recorded next if not Friday,” he told the defectors.

“We will embark on serious campaigns after next week once it is registered and Kenyans will see our plans for the country as a team,” he added.

President Kenyatta signed the recently enacted Political Parties (Amendment) Bill 2021 after it was passed by the National Assembly over the Christmas and New Year holidays before being returned to the Senate where he was adopted yesterday.

The new law amends the Political Parties Act 2011 by introducing the concept of coalition political parties, defining the functions of political parties and changing the criteria for accessing the Political Parties Fund.

The Act also empowers the Registrar of Political Parties to certify political party membership lists and nomination rules, among other transformative provisions aimed at strengthening political party management and strengthening democracy.

defectors

Among those who decamped to the Orange party were 14 MCAs from Kakamega County and two from the Busia County Assembly.

Earlier, the former Prime Minister hosted Senator Uasin Gishu Margaret Kamar, State Department for Gender CAS Jebii Kilimo, former Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo and former Minister of Agriculture, the Dr Sally Kosgei.

“The Azimio la Umoja movement continued to reap big as the party leader officially welcomed UG Senator Margaret Kamar, CAS Linah Jebii Kilimo, former IG David Kimaiyo and former Agriculture Minister , Dr Sally Kosgei in the movement,” the ODM party wrote on its Twitter account on Thursday. .

During the reception of new Azimio members, Raila was accompanied by Deputy ODM Party Leader Wycliffe Oparanya, Party General Secretary Edwin Sifuna, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito, among other leaders.