A Kenyan businessman living in Tanzania has expressed his disappointment over the opposition coalition's decision to abandon the Azimio la Umoja name and rebrand as Ukombozi Alliance ahead of the 2027 general election. Ronny Raburu, originally from Kisumu County but resident in Tanzania for approximately 25 years, claims he is the person who proposed the name Azimio la Umoja to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga back in 2021.
According to Raburu, Raila contacted him shortly after the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was nullified by the courts, seeking a Swahili name that could carry forward the spirit of national unity that BBI had championed. The BBI had been a joint project between Raila and then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, born out of their 2018 handshake agreement. Raburu consulted widely with friends, elders, and historians well-versed in Tanzanian political history before submitting several name proposals to Raila.
Among the proposals submitted to Raila was Azimio la Umoja, a name Raburu drew directly from the Arusha Declaration of 1967, the foundational socialist policy document authored by Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere. Raburu felt that since BBI had collapsed, there was a need for a name that would continue to reflect the idea of building bridges of unity. Days later, Raburu watched as Raila publicly launched the name at a gathering in Nakuru.
The Azimio la Umoja name subsequently became the foundation of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition, which brought together ODM, Jubilee, Wiper, KANU, and other parties for the 2022 presidential race. With the coalition announcing its transition to the Ukombozi Alliance banner, Raburu expressed his fear that Raila's political legacy is being erased with unusual speed. He described the rebranding as a departure from principled, ideology-driven politics.
Raburu argued that the new name lacks any philosophical foundation and amounts to little more than campaign sloganeering. He stated that the new name seems to be driven by the desire to win an election rather than being grounded in principles and a specific philosophy. Raburu expressed his heartbreak over the development, stating that Raila practised politics grounded in principles and a specific philosophy.
The rebranding of Azimio la Umoja to Ukombozi Alliance has sparked debate among Kenyans, with some expressing support for the change and others criticizing it. The opposition coalition's decision to rebrand has raised questions about the future of the coalition and its impact on Kenyan politics. Raburu's sentiments are shared by some Kenyans who fear that the rebranding may dilute the coalition's message and ideology.
The Azimio la Umoja coalition was formed in 2021, with Raila Odinga as its leader. The coalition played a significant role in the 2022 presidential election, with Odinga losing to William Ruto. The coalition's rebranding to Ukombozi Alliance has sparked speculation about its future plans and strategies. Raburu's comments have added fuel to the debate, with some calling for the coalition to focus on its core principles and ideology.
Key points
- Ronny Raburu, the businessman who coined Azimio la Umoja, has expressed disappointment over the opposition coalition's decision to rebrand as Ukombozi Alliance.
- Raburu claims that the new name lacks philosophical foundation and amounts to little more than campaign sloganeering.
- The rebranding has sparked debate among Kenyans, with some expressing support for the change and others criticizing it.
