NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 16 – The Kenya Kwanza Alliance has commenced the process of changing the constitution to enable the creation of the office of Official Opposition in Parliament.
Debate ensued in the National Assembly as President William Ruto allies defended his memorandum before the House amidst revolt from the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya leaders.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa while moving the motion insisted that the proposal on creation of the office of the opposition leader is not a sweet deal or handshake.
“This position is not being created to appease anybody; we are creating this position for posterity. We are creating a position that will enrich and deepen the structure of our democracy,” Ichung’wa said.
“We are not seeking to create position because the President and myself as we traversed this country, we did promise that we will run a government that will create employment and not positions,” the Majority Leader added.
The Speaker referred the matters raised in the Memorandum to the Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC) relating to the implementation of the Two-Thirds Gender Principle and the establishment of the Office of the Leader of Official Opposition.
JLAC Chair George Murugara noted that the House can amend the constitution despite our presidential system of governance saying there are avenues to occasion changes in the constitution through the House.
“There is distinction between the BBI and the memorandum that President Uhuru Kenyatta presented. BBI was clearly initiated by the President and the Executive. What the President has done is to give recommendations in his two capacities as a President and a citizen,” Tharaka Nithi MP George Murugara stated.
Nominated MP John Mbadi scoffed at the President Ruto’s memorandum terming him a dishonest man who is focused on creating positions instead of alleviating Kenyans from the tough economic times.
“How I wish that the language of President William Ruto when he was campaigning, that he would stick to that script and make people of Kenya have a bearable life instead of writing memorandums to us. These are issues we can deal with as a country and agree we want to go the route of constitutional amendment” said Mbadi.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo pointed out that the President memorandum is a foul to the Constitution saying the legislative house has no government or opposition, its only a house of a majority or minority.
Threfore, he argued there is no place for the opposition leader to sit in the lawmaking house as it is not envisaged in the confines of the Constitution.
“The opposition leader change is a bad idea either on the aspect of constitutionalism or purpose. In this house there is no government or opposition. If you look at Article 130,the government comprises of President, the deputy and the cabinet, there is nowhere where the majority leader is mentioned,” said Otiende Amollo.
