Odhiambo Orlale
9 October 2008
Nairobi — The stage was Thursday set for a showdown between MPs pushing for establishment of an office of the Official Opposition and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The House Business Committee gave Mr Ababu Namwamba (Budalangi, ODM) the green light to move the National Assembly Parliamentary Opposition Bill Number 18.
The Bill was read for the first time by the ODM MP and then referred to the parliamentary committee on Administration of Justice and Constitutional Affairs chaired by Mandera Central legislator Mohamed Abdikadir for scrutiny before it is returned to members for debate.
Speaker Kenneth Marende overruled Local Government assistant minister Robinson Githae, when he rose to suggest that Mr Namwamba was out of order by moving a motion, which was opposed by his party leader. "Is the member in order to move this Bill yet he swore allegiance to Raila!"
The Speaker told Mr Githae that the parliamentary committee will interrogate merits and demerits of the proposed legislation.
Mr Namwamba and his colleagues used the recent break to lobby and promote the Bill saying, the Coalition Government must be put on check by an official opposition.
Others backing the Bill are Mr Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito, ODM-K), Mr Cyrus Jirongo (Lugari, Kaddu), Mr Mithika Linturi (Igembe South, Kanu), Mr Charles Kilonzo (Yatta, ODM-K) and Mr Joshua Kutuny of Cherangany. The Budalang'i MP and his colleagues claim to have the backing of 70 MPs.
Weaken party
But Mr Odinga, who is the ODM leader and Lang'ata MP, has argued that the members fronting for the official opposition would weaken the party during crucial votes.
President Kibaki and the PM signed a national accord in February to end post-election violence and pave way for the formation of a Coalition Government and power-sharing between PNU and ODM.
According to the current House Standing Orders, an opposition party must have at least 30 MPs for its leader to be recognised as the Official Opposition head.
Previous holders of the office include Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta and Ford Kenya founder Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
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