Suna East Member of Parliament (MP) Junet Mohamed has been recognized as the new leader of the Majority party in Parliament.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangu’la recognized Junet as the new Majority Leader while speaking on February 11, 2024, during the fourth session of the thirteenth Parliament when the house reconvened following a long recess.
This follows a High Court ruling that declared Speaker Wetang’ula’s declaration of President William Ruto‘s Kenya Kwanza Alliance as the Majority party in the National Assembly as unconstitutional.
While reading a list of Members of Parliament (MPs) who were conferred awards by President Ruto last year, the Speaker referred to Junet as the “leader of the Majority party”.
“In this regard, I wish to inform the house that several members of this house were conferred state honors by H.E the President during the 61st Jamhuri Day celebrations held on 12th December 2024 in recognition of their distinguished service to the nation in various capacities,” stated Speaker Wetang’ula.
“Top on the list of honors is the Honorable Junet Sheikh Noor Mohammed CBS, MP Leader of the Majority party who was conferred the Elder of Golden Heart (EGH).”
Junet Mohammed recognized as Majority leader
Following Wetang’ula’s recognition, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo who has been serving as the minority whip noted that Azimio la Umoja had penned a letter to the Speaker in regard to house changes.
“I have therefore as the Majority party whip of Azimio today handed your office a copy of that decision of the high court with a letter that according to the standing orders we are giving you our Majority leader as Hon. Junet Mohammed,” said MP Odhiambo amidst cheers from Azimio members.
Also Read: Wetang’ula Responds to Calls for His Resignation After High Court Ruling
MP Junet then went on to address the house while seating at the position of the majority leader.
He asserted that he has the capacity, qualifications, capabilities, numbers and everything that it takes to take lead of the role.
The new developments come after a three-judge bench comprising Justices Lawrence Mugambi, John Chigiti, and Jairus Ngaah found that Speaker Wetang’ula violated the Constitution by declaring Kenya Kwanza as the Majority Party, ruling that the determination was made without sufficient legal basis.
Court ruling
The court while ruling on a petition filed by 12 rights activists described as “citizens of Kenya and registered voters” noted that there was no evidence to support claims that five political parties had formally left the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition and joined Kenya Kwanza Alliance by signing the necessary post-election agreements.
Also Read: Chaos in Parliament as Azimio Takes Over Majority Side
The parties are Senate Speaker Amason Kingi’s Pamoja African Alliance (PAA), Mandera Senator Ali Roba’s United Democratic Movement (UDM), and Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) of Ugenya MP David Ochieng.
Others include Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) of former Bomet governor Isaac Ruto, and Maendeleo Chap Chap, formerly led by Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua.
“By assigning the 14 MPs from MDG, UDM, PAA, CCM, and MCCP to Kenya Kwanza Alliance without evidence of post-election agreements or justification and declaring Kenya Kwanza Alliance as Majority, the Speaker acted arbitrarily and violated Article 101 of the Constitution,” the ruling stated.
The court quashed Speaker Wetang’ula’s ruling dated October 6, 2022, that declared Kenya Kwanza Alliance the Majority Party and Azimio the Minority. The judges said the ruling is null and void.
Additionally, the court held that the Speaker’s declaration lacked both legal and factual justification, holding that he violated the Constitution by making the declaration.
Chaos erupts inside Parliament
Earlier, chaos rocked the National Assembly as some members of the Azimio Coalition demanded to occupy the majority side of the house.
In the first seating after the recess, some of the lawmakers were seen trying to seat on the side of the majority as Wetang’ula found a hard time trying to keep them in order.
The Speaker was heard asking the MPs to take any nearest seat. Moments later, one lawmaker walked into the chambers before Azimio members started stamping their feet and making noise.
Also, lawmakers were heard shouting when the clerk of the National Assembly was reading the orders of the house.
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