The Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula has postponed making a decision regarding which party constitutes the majority and minority in the National Assembly in order to take some time to reflect and make his decision.
This comes after a contentious power struggle between Azimio One Kenya Coalition and the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, both of which asserted that they held the majority in the Parliament.
Before the August House, Wetangula requested that the legislators approach him on the problem before he retreated to give his judgement, which was regarded to be “Solomonic.”
“I will reserve the rest of today’s sitting to allow the house address me on this matter so that I can retreat to make a reasonable ruling on this matter,” Wetangula stated.
Wetangula reported that he had received a letter from Suna East MP Junet Mohammed on September 28 in which he identified himself as the Majority Whip and transmitted the house leaders’ agreement from the coalition’s Parliamentary group meeting.
On September 22, he received a letter from Sylvanus Osoro, South Mugirango MP, who identified himself as the Majority Whip and informed the Speaker of the Kenya Kwanza camp’s plans for the house leadership.
The House will continue to meet in session while the Speaker takes a break to write a ruling on the issue. The House Business Committee sets the House’s schedule for business meetings.
Wetangula ruled that the house must continue meeting for the next four sittings in order to discuss the procedural motion regarding President William Ruto’s legislative speech to the house on September 29.
Gladys Shollei, the Deputy Speaker, will act as the majority leader throughout the sessions by bringing motions before the house before a decision is taken.
“Since there is no objection over who is the Deputy Speaker in the House. I authorise the Deputy Speaker to move certain business as follows by laying certain papers which have statutory deadlines,” said Wetangula.
Speaker Wetangula’s decision on the issue will launch critical House initiatives, such as the creation of the House Business Committee (HBC).
The Standing Orders, which govern the scheduling or programming of the House’s activity and the operation of its committees, are implemented by the House Business Committee to create the activities as the HBC consists of the Speaker, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and not fewer than 21 or more than 29 members nominated by parliamentary parties recognized by the House, the Speaker’s decision is crucial to its creation.
The committee must be established within seven days of the first day of Parliament, according the standing regulations.
On September 17, Azimio One Kenya announced Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MP Opiyo Wandayi of the Ugunja as its House leader.
According to a coalition agreement lodged at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka stated during a press conference that Azimio still holds the majority in the National Assembly (ORPP).and business of the August House.
Wandayi will be assisted by Robert Mbui from Wiper, a constituent party of Azimio, who is Wandayi’s Kathiani counterpart.
On the other hand, Kilifi North MP Owen Baya was chosen to serve as the Kenya Kwanza House Leader in place of Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wa.
Sylvanus Osoro of South Mugirango was chosen as the Chief Whip, and Naomi Waqo, a nominee, will serve as his deputy.