Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, left, and opposition leader Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition shake hands after a joint news conference in Nairobi, March 9, 2018. Credit/VoA
Kenyatta-Odinga Romance: Opposition is the casualty
The recent sudden love between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader, Raila Odinga is a welcome development, in the interest of the country. But recent development in the parliament suggest that Odinga may trade the strength of the opposition to pacify the ruling party.
After months of angst over the election of Kenyatta which has led to loss of lives and property, Odinga visited Kenyatta and they both promised to sheath their swords.
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A week later, Odinga has begun to upstage the National Super Alliance (Nasa) on whose platform his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) wrested power with Kenyatta. Major Nasa figures like Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Masika Wetang’ula and Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi will always remember the date — Friday, March 9, 2018 — when, like all other Kenyans, they learnt through the media that Kenyatta and Odinga were holding talks at Harambee House, Nairobi, without their knowledge.
An intra-coalition game of tit-for-tat ensued, and on Thursday, Mr Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) made the first public move to solidify its role as the main opposition by attempting to remove Mr Wetang’ula as the Leader of Minority in the Senate and replace him with Siaya Senator James Orengo.
Mr Wetang’ula, in essence, becomes the first casualty of the handshake between President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga, which has entrenched suspicions between the alliance partners.
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka however suspended the removal of Mr Wetang’ula until Mr Orengo is elected in the House, according to the Standing Orders, which provide that the removal of the Leader of Minority shall not take effect until another one is elected in accordance with the rules.
As a result, Mr Lusaka ruled that the ODM meeting that dethroned Mr Wetang’ula does not in law have the power to appoint Mr Orengo.
He added that House procedures require that the axing of Mr Wetang’ula be by a majority of the votes of all senators belonging to the minority party.
With the new posturing of Odinga and the ODM, there are fears, that in the coming days, Nasa, as a coalition, may be weakened and it may not be able to stand and oppose the ruling party.