NAIROBI, September 16 – Members of Parliament who support the formation of a Grand Opposition on Tuesday vowed to remain vigilant in keeping the government in check.
Budalangi’ MP Ababu Namwamba said top on their agenda would be a push for compensation of Internally Displaced Persons and tracing people who went missing as a result of the post election crisis.
“We have prepared a Motion seeking to compel the government to publish the official list of all lives lost, all displaced people and all missing persons for purposes of an official national record and for full compensation,” he said.
The MPs further raised concerns over appointments to the public service and recruitment into the armed forces alleging that the merit was no longer a consideration for being hired.
Namwamba said the group would also fight to harmonise salaries in the civil service especially for teachers adding that the Opposition caucus was against teachers signing performance contracts before their salaries were matched with the rest of the public service.
Accompanied by other MPs who support the Grand Opposition, Namwamba said they would remain committed to making the government accountable in service delivery to the Kenyan public.
They also complained about the rising cost of living which they said the government seemed to have ignored and added that they would introduce a Motion in parliament to protect tea, maize, wheat and sugarcane farmers from unfair prices.
Other issues they intend to deal with include corruption, the constitution making process, and job creation for young people.
They said they would push ahead with their agenda “whether they were recognized as an official opposition or not.”
About 60 MPs have so far expressed interest to join the Opposition, eliciting a major division among the political class. A Bill under which the MPs are seeking to be recognised as an official Opposition is however still pending before the House.
The MPs have time and again been asked to resign from their parties and constituency positions and seek re-election on the party of their choice.
They however want the formation of an Opposition in parliament distinguished from defecting to a different party.
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