As Parliament resumes its first official sitting Tuesday, October 4, the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula is expected to make a ruling on who holds the majority and minority position in the house.
Moreover, the two outfits; Azimio la Umoja One Kenya and Kenya Kwanza Coalition have been claiming to have numerical strength over each other and deserve to serve on the majority side.
Nonetheless, Speaker Wetangula’s ruling on the matter will allow for the commencement of crucial activities including formation of the House Business Committee (HBC).
The House Business Committee is responsible for formulating activities and business of the August house by implementing the Standing Orders which determines the scheduling or programming of the business of the House and the functioning of the Committees of the House.
Furthermore, the Speaker’s ruling is vital in the formation of the HBC as it constitutes the Speaker, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and not less than 21 or more than 29 members nominated by parliamentary parties approved by the House.
Likewise, the standing orders stipulate that the committee is formed within seven days of the day Parliament opens.
Azimio La Umoja One Kenya on September 17, announced Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as its House leader.
Similarly, Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka during a press conference maintained that Azimio still controls the majority in the National Assembly as per the coalition agreement deposited at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).
Wandayi is to be deputized by Robert Mbui from Wiper, a constituent party within Azimio.
Moreover, Kenya Kwanza Coalition named Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wa as the House Leader to be deputized by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya.
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Sylvanus Osoro of South Mugirango was designated as the Chief Whip, to be deputized by Nominated MP Naomi Waqo.
However, the question on who welds the majority in the National Assembly between the two coalitions is still a contested legal issue setting the stage for a confrontation in the House that may require the Speaker’s intervention.
The issue comes as some Azimio constituent parties decamped to President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance opening the issue of majority and minority in the National Assembly to a contest.
