Legislators from the United Democratic Movement (UDM) have protested to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula against the Registrar of Political Parties’ decision to link them to the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
The 11 legislators have taken issue with a letter from the Registrar, Ms Anne Nderitu, informing Parliament of the party’s connection to Raila Odinga-led Azimio.
Instead, they have insisted that they are members of President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance, as per a post-election agreement signed between UDM and the President’s coalition.
“It is indeed baffling that despite the Post-Election Coalition Agreement that was signed between our Party and the Kenya Kwanza Coalition under the Political Parties Act, 2011, the Registrar of Political Parties knowingly disregarded the law and has unlawfully associated ourselves and indeed our Party with a non-existent coalition agreement with the Azimio Coalition,” they said in the letter dated September 16.
The legislators include; Mr Roba, Senators; Mohamed Abbas (Wajir) and Mariam Omar and MPs; Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North), Hassan Maalim (Banisa), Haro Abdul (Mandera South), Mangale Chiforomodo (Lungalunga), Yusuf Haji (Mandera West), Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), Umulkheir Kassim (Mandera Woman Rep) and Sulekha Harun (nominated).
They pointed out that Article 38 of the Constitution recognizes political rights, including the right to vote.
They also emphasized that the constitution embodies the freedom of association guaranteed in Article 36 of the Constitution.
“These two fundamental rights cannot be negated by the alleged misrepresentation of facts and law by the Register of Political Parties which seeks to place us in a coalition agreement that we are not party to.
“We, therefore, protest against such actions and note that Article 10 of the constitution which outlines the national values and principles of governance, behooves upon you Honourable Speaker in making any decision affecting the Members of the House in particular the Members of the UDM Party to make such decisions in a manner that promotes and advances the rule of law, good governance and human rights.”
The legislators insisted that any continued affiliation with the Azimio coalition “is not only in contrary to the Political Parties Act of 2011, but also of Articles 10, 36, and 38 of the constitution.”
