Kenya Kwanza alliance and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party held Parliamentary Group retreats in Naivasha, Nakuru County, and Stoni Athi, Machakos County, ahead of the official start of sittings by the two chambers of Parliament.
They also chose their bicameral Parliament leaders. Kenya Kwanza lawmakers chose Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah as Majority Leader, with Kilifi South legislator Owen Baya as his deputy, in a session chaired by President William Ruto.
South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro was appointed Majority Whip, and Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Waqo assisted him.
In a meeting presided over by coalition party leader Raila Odinga, the Azimio team chose Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi as Majority Leader, who will be assisted by Kathiani lawmaker Robert Mbui.
The Parliamentary Group decided to give Suna East MP Junet Mohamed another chance to whip the MPs, assisted by Sabina Chege, who returned to the House as a nominated member.
However, a showdown is looming in the National Assembly, as both parties claim to have a majority in the House and are vying for the positions of Majority Leader and Majority Whip.
“Our friends on the other side will choose the leaders of the minority because they are the minority. They just have to live with the reality that they’re the minority, let us not have an unnecessary contest as to which side is the majority,” President Ruto.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Azimio-OKA is legally and legitimately the majority coalition in the National Assembly. This is not a matter of determination by any individual or office, it is simple arithmetic. And so to settle this matter, and put the record straight once and for all, MPs belonging to Azimio-OKA have been properly advised to take up majority roles and responsibilities, in and out of the National Assembly chamber,” Azimio co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka said.
As a result, the contest has shifted to a game of numbers in the House. The UDA party has 144 elected MPs, ODM has 88, Jubilee has 27, and Wiper has 26.
The UDM party has nine elected MPs, The Service Party has two, Maendeleo Chap Chap has two, and NOPEU, DP, GDDP, MDG, and CCM each have one.
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party agreement, which included 26 political parties, prohibits any signatory from leaving 6 months before and 3 months after the general election.
If this agreement is enforced, Azimio will have a slim majority in the House.
However, the UDM, Kenya Union Party, and MDG have since joined Kenya Kwanza, giving the alliance a majority of 180 MPs to Azimio’s 155.
Ten of the twelve independent MPs have also joined Kenya Kwanza, increasing its numbers.
This dispute is now expected to be settled by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula.
“As Speaker, I wait for them to bring me whatever they have on the floor, then I’ll deal with it. I’m not part of either side, as it is I am the Speaker, the impartial arbiter, and will be guided by the Constitution and Standing Orders of the House,” Wetangula said.
