- ANC has written to the county assembly Speaker Morris Buluma demanding the minority leadership back.
- But in his ruling on September 14, Buluma declined to accept the demand by ANC saying that the process of dissolution of the coalition was incomplete.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
Dissolution of the National Super Alliance by affiliate parties has triggered a row in the Kakamega county assembly leadership.
ANC has written to the county assembly Speaker Morris Buluma demanding the minority leadership back following dissolution of the Nasa coalition.
The coalition brought together Raila Odinga’s ODM, Musalia Mudavadi's ANC, Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper, Moses Wetang’ula's Ford Kenya and Isaac Ruto’s Chama Cha Mashinani.
Buluma had ruled in June last year that ANC, Ford Kenya, Wiper and CCM MCAs who were occupying the minority leadership positions cross over to join ODM on the government side because the four parties were part of Nasa.
MCAs from the three parties protested the move in what they perceived as a plot by the county executive to seize absolute control of the assembly.
But in his letter addressed to Buluma, ANC national chairman Kelvin Lunani nominated David Ndakwa as minority leader, Edward Namunyu (deputy minority leader), Charles Nandwa (minority whip), Doris Matere (deputy minority whip) and Rodgers Nato as the assembly service board member.
“This is to bring to your attention that NASA coalition has been dissolved. For this reason ANC party assumes its position in the business of the House as the minority party in the county assembly of Kakamega,” Lunani said in his letter dated September 3.
The letter is copied to Mudavadi, the registrar of political parties Ann Nderitu and other coalition party leaderships.
But in his ruling on September 14, Buluma declined to accept the demand by ANC saying the process of dissolution of the coalition was incomplete.
“I am persuaded that just like formation, dissolution of a coalition of political parties is a process and the same cannot be complete unless the process is complete.
“As it stands and with the views expressed, dissolution process of the Nasa coalition is incomplete and I am in the circumstances unable to act on the letter,” Buluma ruled.
Nderitu on August 26 notified ODM, ANC, Ford Kenya, Wiper and CCM that the coalition stood dissolved after effective withdrawal of three parties as requires by the coalition agreement.
ANC, Ford Kenya and Wiper notified the registrar of political parties of their intentions to leave the coalition, triggering the dissolution process.
“Following a review of the submissions, resolutions of three political parties were executed as per the set requirements. In this respect Nasa hereby stands dissolved,” Nderitu said in her letter addressed to party leaders.
Article 15(1) of the coalition agreement stipulates that the coalition shall stand dissolved where any three of the coalition parties decide to leave the coalition.
Nderitu published a notice of dissolution of Nasa coalition in a paid up advertisement in the Star on Tuesday.
Regulation 22(2) of the Political Parties (Regulations 2019) requires the office of registrar of political parties to publish a notice of the dissolution in two newspapers with a wide circulation.
Edited by SKanyara