National Assembly Speaker Wetangula poke holes in Azimio coalition

Fracas ensued in the National Assembly yesterday following the ruling by Speaker Mosses Wetangula that Kenya Kwanza Alliance has the majority Members of Parliament.

According to Wetangula, Kenya Kwanza alliance has 179 MPs compared to 157 from their rivals in Azimio One Kenya alliance on the merit that 14 MPs political parties signed a post-election coalition agreement making the Kenya kwanza alliance the majority in the House.

The said eight MPs from the United Democratic Movement, three from PAA, two from Maendeleo Chap Chap and one from Movement Democratic Growth Party.

These party where initially members of the azimio la umoja one Kenya political outfit.

Azimio have termed the ruling by Wetangula as deeming their rivals in Kenya Kwanza Alliance as the majority as a nothing short of ‘State Capture’.

Azimio MPs argued that the constitutional timeline allowing for decamping had not yet reached, hence making the 14 MPs legally members of Azimio.

However, Wetangula said that coalitions are not “cast in stone” and that the membership can change before or after elections.

Following the decision Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah becomes the Majority leader in the National Assembly, deputised by Kilifi North MP Owen Mbaya.

South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro will serve as the Chief Whip, assisted by Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Jilo Waqo.

Wetangula also ruled that Azimio will take up the minority lead position in the house this making Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, who had been proposed for the Majority Leader position, the Minority Leader in the National Assembly. His deputy will be Kathiani MP Robert Mbui.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed will, consequently, serve as Minority Whip, deputised by Nominated MP Sabina Chege.

The chaos targeting the Parliament’s Mace threw the House into frenzy shortly after the ruling.