The Kenya Kwanza government is determined to change the Kenya constitution to allow the chief opposition leader to join parliament and his deputy to join the senate as minority leaders.
In the latest proposal by Ruto’s side, it wants to have a strong opposition in both houses as a way to put checks to the sitting government.
If the new proposal sails through, the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga will join the national assembly as the minority leader, while his deputy Martha Karua to join the senate as the minority leader of the house.
Speaking to NTV, Attorney General Justine Muturi said it’s possible to amend the constitution without having a referendum. He says if this happens, the second person in the presidential polls will have a mandate in the National Assembly while their deputy has one in the Senate.
“It is possible. We do not need a referendum. We can tinker a bit with Article 108 to have the person who comes second in the presidential poll to become the minority Leader in the National Assembly, and running mate, the minority leader in the Senate,” Muturi said on Thursday, January 27.
If this proposal sails through, the national assembly membership will increase by one, making it with 250 members, while that of the senate increasing to 68. The law will make the opposition leaders enjoy funding from the Parliamentary Service Commission according to Justin Muturi.
“The offices of the Majority Leader and Minority Leader are heavily facilitated by the Parliamentary Service Commission. The second in the last general election can take the minority leadership in both houses, the number will increase to 68 in the Senate and 350 in the National Assembly,” Muturi stated.
The former National Assembly Speaker argued that this is the only way to have a good opposition in both houses to keep checks on the sitting government.
“Now, this amendment will ensure we have a true opposition in parliament that will keep the government on its toes,” he said.
Recently the Azimio party leader rejected the offer by the government to give him an opposition office recognized by the constitution, terming it a kangaroo office.
