Showdown looms in the National Assembly as both Kenya Kwanza, Azimio claim majority status

Ahead of the official commencement of sittings by the two chambers of Parliament, Kenya Kwanza alliance and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party convened Parliamentary Group retreats in Naivasha, Nakuru County, and Stoni Athi, Machakos County, to enable members bond and strategize.

They also settled on their leaders in the bicameral Parliament. In the National Assembly, Kenya Kwanza lawmakers, in a session chaired by President William Ruto, settled on Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah as Majority Leader with Kilifi South legislator Owen Baya as his deputy.

South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro was named Majority Whip, assisted by Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Waqo.

The Azimio team, in a meeting led by coalition party leader Raila Odinga, picked Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi as Majority Leader, deputised by Kathiani lawmaker Robert Mbui.

The Parliamentary Group meeting resolved to grant Suna East MP Junet Mohamed another opportunity to whip the MPs, deputised by Sabina Chege, who made it back to the House as a nominated member,

However, a showdown is imminent in the National Assembly as both sides are claiming to have majority numbers in the House, thereby demanding the Majority Leader and Majority Whip slots.

“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.

Azimio co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka, on the other hand, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, Azimio-OKA is legally and legitimately the majority coalition in the National Assembly. This is not a matter for 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.”

The contest has hence shifted to the game of numbers in the House. UDA party has 144 elected MPs, ODM (88), Jubilee (27) and Wiper has 26 lawmakers.

The UDM party has 9 elected MPs, The Service Party (2), Maendeleo Chap Chap (2), while NOPEU, DP, GDDP, MDG and CCM have one member each.

The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party agreement, that brought on board 26 political parties, bars any signatory from exiting 6 months to the General Election and 3 months after the General Election.

If this agreement was to be enforced, then Azimio would have a slight majority in the House.

However, UDM, Kenya Union Party and MDG have since aligned themselves with Kenya Kwanza, giving the alliance a majority of 180 MPs against Azimio’s 155.

Ten out of the 12 independent MPs have also aligned themselves with Kenya Kwanza, boosting its numbers.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula is now expected to settle this dispute.

“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.

Wetangula, one of the Kenya Kwanza principals, was a beneficiary of the alliance’s numbers in the Speakers’ contest, bagging the seat after garnering 215 votes in the first round.