A well-choreographed and executed strategy by Deputy President William Ruto's allies on Wednesday nearly cost President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM boss Raila Odinga.
The Star has established that the DP's troops, who appeared well coordinated, meticulously schemed to frustrate the President and his handshake partner in Parliament.
Well couched and strategically positioned, blow by blow the DP's troops took the House hostage with an avalanche of amendments whose aim was to derail the approval of the Political Parties (Amendment), Bill 2021.
Tangatanga's bag of tricks included sponsoring multiple amendments to the bill to slow its progress through Parliament.
Political analysts opine that while the DP's camp was aware that they did not have the numbers to crush the pro-handshake brigade, their filibustering tactics exposed the Uhuru faction.
In a major victory, the DP's allies ensured the House was only able to execute seven amendments out of the 27 sponsored by their compatriots in the Tangatanga camp.
Borrowing from their December 22 script that saw debate on the bill ended prematurely, the Ruto team deployed a galaxy of mind games and delay tactics to slow the approval of the key coalitions bill.
It has emerged that the Tangatanga MPs were also using the occasion to flex their muscles and showcase their numbers in Parliament against the President and Raila.
"Deputy President William Ruto has proven his critics wrong. He has the numbers. And his numbers count," tweeted nominated Senator Millicent Omanga.
She went on: "Funny how one man—Ruto—has kept Raila, Uhuru, Mudavadi, Wetangula, Gideon, deep state, system et al on panic mode. Tumejipanga!"
For the first time, the DP marshaled 136 MPs to unsuccessfully push for amendments to the bill against a combined contingent of the President and his allies who managed 153 MPs.
South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro said the DP's allies were calculative in each of their moves to stop all manner of machinations.
"We were there to make a point and ensure that draconian laws that return Kenya to the dark days do not sail through," Osoro said.
But the MP denied that Tangatanga was out to show off their numbers, insisting that they made their point on the floor of the House.
"We shall meet on the floor again any day," he said.
A part from the array of amendments, when they realised they could not compete having fewer members on their side, the Tangatanga team forced the House to go to division for every amendment.
Division is physical counting of votes. This delaying tactic ensured the business was not concluded.
The sitting went up to Thursday 01:43am but still, they couldn’t dispense with the critical bill.
The bill is believed to be the main anchor of the Raila Odinga-led Azimio La Umoja coalition party.
“We are going to sit here until midnight, filibuster all you want. We are going to be here,” Minority Whip Junet Mohamed fired at the nagging Tangatanga.
At the onset, the pro-handshake team suffered their first defeat in the hands of well organized Tangatanga team after 123 MPs voted for John Mutunga's proposals to amend Clause 3 of the Political Parties Act against 118 from the handshake side.
The Ruto side appeared to enjoy some numerical strength in the House before things turned in favour of the Uhuru-Raila team.
ANOTHER SITTING
The Star has established that Uhuru and Raila have called for a three-day special sitting next week as they plot to ram through the bill.
The House will sit on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to conclude the bill by Majority Leader Amos Kimunya.
Kimunya on Thursday confirmed writing to Speaker Justin Muturi for another special sitting to conclude the bill
“What we are doing we are doing for posterity and in good faith. What we are doing is for better political governance,” Kimunya said.
“I have already signed a request to the honourable Speaker for special sittings on January 5,6 and 7 so that we can continue transacting this business until we finish,” added the Kipipiri lawmaker.
Kimunya said they will use next week’s sittings to revisit the amendments by Mutunga, saying they not make sense.
“We will revisit that clause because it doesn’t make sense. We don’t want to put things in the law that don't make sense,” Kimunya said.
Mutunga had proposed amendments to Clause 3 to have specific colours for dominant parties.
According to the thinking of Kieleweke, the three days will be enough to manoeuvre the filibustering of Tangatanga and have the bill become law by early January.
'WE ARE READY'
Jubilee Coalition Joint Parliamentary Group Secretary Adan Keynan warned critics to prepare for a resounding endorsement.
"The resilience, patience and commitment I saw in the House sitting until the wee hours of the night on a holiday eve is a clear demonstration of the resolve in the House to see to it that this legislation becomes law for posterity. I urge members not to let the foot off the pedal as we reconvene next week to cross the finish line," Keynan said.
"As we pass this bill in the National Assembly, I also challenge senators to take note of the zeal of the majority members of the National Assembly and also the desperate attempts by a small band of saboteurs to frustrate legitimate parliamentary process who might try the same at the Senate."
Instructively, Ruto's troops in the House have vowed to sustain the onslaught against the proposed law, insisting all their amendments must be considered.
That sets the stage for another round of face-off next week when the two sides will move to outdo each other on the floor of the House.
On Wednesday, the Tangatanga team appeared to be celebrating after the House failed to conclude the bill that has already divided Parliament right down the middle.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi said Tangatanga’s strategy carried the day in derailing the process being pushed by Uhuru and Raila.
“The real elephant in the House isn't about the numbers, you will soon learn that Tangatanga is ahead of them in strategy. Just imagine a new party UDA is shaking the entire Azimio (ODM, Jubilee and others combined),” the vocal legislator said.
But Kimunya expressed confidence in arm-twisting Tangatanga and having the bill finalised by next week.
“It was purely mischievous. The guys didn’t want us to make progress. They were no voice of their own, they were told to go and stop debate,” Kimunya said.
Edited by Henry Makori
