Sort out this mess, Mr Speaker

SUNDAY TIMES

Commentary and Analysis

March 23, 2008

Story by: Omar Ali

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Iam no political scientist, but would assume that in the latest constitutional amendment that created the post of a prime minister and two deputy premiers, the amendment did not do away with the constitutional office of the Leader of Official Opposition in Parliament. With the forming of the incoming PNU/ODM Unity Government, there is no "Leader of Official Opposition in Parliament."

According to some press statement by the chairman of the Law Society of Kenya, Okong’o O’Mogeni and other legal minds, I understand that the law requires that the Leader of Official Opposition in parliament’ must come from a party with at least 15 parliamentary seats hence O’Mogeni strangely wanted the ODM Kenya leader, Kalonzo Musyoka to resign his vice presidency position and assume the position.

Unless the LSK chairman was joking, because an individuals must be out of his or her mind to resign from the country’s number two position with all the power and perks that come along and go and assume the job of being the leader of opposition.

O’Mogeni has since changed his mind and now seeking the Speaker of National Assembly Kenneth Marende ‘should put in place mechanisms to amend standing orders and allow the formation of an official Opposition by a coalition of small parties.’ I happen to agree with the LSK chairman here because the National Assembly standing orders were skipped where the debate of the constitutional amendment took less than five days instead of the required fourteen days to be debated and passed.
The parliamentary Standing Orders where the Leader of Official Opposition in Parliament must come from a political party with 15 MPs could be altered so that any MP elected by not less than fifteen MPs (or any agreeable number) shall assume the status.

The rule could also mandate that an individual who is elected by all backbenchers from political parties that are not affiliated to the political parties that have formed the government or are part of the government. The Speaker should rise above the fray and put in place mechanism where an official opposition is made possible to exist in the August House.

Boldly speaking to the honorable Speaker, it is one thing to make it possible for a parliamentary live coverage by the media where very fewer Kenyans have television sets in their homes but it another when you will make it possible for the country to have a respectable opposition arrangement in the august house.

omarahmedali@gamil.com

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