Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula’s declaration of the Kenya Kwanza alliance as the majority side in the House has drawn criticism from members of parliament affiliated with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party.
Junet Mohamed, a member of parliament for Suna East and the House Minority Whip, criticized the Speaker for assuming ‘roles that don’t belong to him.’
“This is the capture of Parliament by the Executive, it has begun. It is for the first time a Speaker in his place is removing Members of Parliament from one party to another party. He has become the Registrar of Political Parties, he is the Speaker of the National Assembly, he is Law unto himself,” said Junet.
John Mbadi stated that the authority to determine which party a person belongs to rests solely with the Registrar of Political Parties.
Kenya Kwanza lawmakers, who echoed Speaker Wetangula’s comments that Azimio is unsure of whether it is a political party or a coalition of political parties, welcomed the decision nonetheless.
Kimani Ichung’wah, the new leader of the House majority said that their opaqueness is not welcome in parliament.
“Azimio la Umoja One Kenya is neither dead nor alive…they don’t know. They’re not even sure whether they exist as a Parliamentary political party or as a coalition, therefore it is that opaqueness that the House cannot associate itself with.”
