Wetangula Makes a Huge Blunder

Azimio la Umoja, under the leadership of Raila Odinga, has criticized the Speaker’s decision to recognize Jubilee as a parliamentary party under the current circumstances, viewing it as a violation of the Constitution.

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, speaking on behalf of Raila Odinga, expressed their concerns at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.

They consider this move to be a challenge to the principles of the rule of law and multiparty democracy, and they have called upon National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to reconsider the decision.

Wandayi argued that Azimio was registered as a coalition party with recognized constituent parties, including Jubilee. According to records at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, Jubilee remains a member of Azimio, and this fact forms the basis of their objection.

“An elaborate procedure for a constituent political party to exit the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party is clearly provided for under Article 22 of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Deed of Agreement, duly deposited with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties,” he said.

According to Opiyo Wandayi, Article 108 of the Constitution, in conjunction with Standing Order 20A, does not allow for a situation in which a political party can simultaneously be part of a coalition while enjoying the status of an independent parliamentary party in the National Assembly.

This issue arose after Speaker Wetang’ula recognized Jubilee as a parliamentary party and appointed Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje as the Minority Deputy Whip, replacing Nominated MP Sabina Chege.

Sabina Chege is now acknowledged as the Jubilee Party Whip due to the support she receives from 21 out of the 28 party MPs. The interpretation of these constitutional and parliamentary rules has led to the ongoing controversy.

“…. It is therefore logically followed that the current certainty with requirement to the affairs of the Jubilee party doesn’t abode well for the continuity of the business of the House and the full participation of the members of the party in the House standing Order 20 governs the manner of recognizing political parties designating party leaders and whips,” the Speaker ruled