The controversial coalition Bill approved by Parliament on Wednesday will radically change President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga’s Azimio campaign machine.
The Bill will create a Narc-like coalition with a presidential candidate running on its ticket; in the current dispensation, one must run on an affiliate party's ticket.
In this case, political parties entering into the anticipated Azimio La Umoja coalition party will not forego their individual identities, including party colours and slogans, as they will be just corporate members.
The proposed law will also give affiliate parties a major leeway to benefit from the Political Parties Fund due to the coalition, irrespective of their performance.
The legislation largely relaxed the requirement for parties to comply with funding regulations.
This will be a major relief to small coalition partners who may not have enough financial and political muscle to upstage their rivals.
It will be a departure from the current situation where only big parties have been benefiting from the kitty as small parties barely make the cut of five per cent of the votes cast in an election.
Last year, Wiper, ANC and Ford Kenya accused ODM of denying them cash on grounds that the pre-election agreement did not speak of what was to happen in the event they lost.
Under the law fashioned to favour Azimio outfit, fringe political parties would be entitled to a share of cash from the Political Parties Fund as long as they secure any elective seat under the coalition arrangement.
Pundits say the passage of the Bill hands Uhuru and Raila a deadly arsenal to vanquish Deputy President William Ruto who is, or was reluctant form coalitions with parties.
The coalition law, according to experts, sets the stage for the two leaders to marshal sufficient numbers as it stands to deny Ruto the support of the small political parties.
The parties would thus be able to field candidates in the areas they have dominant support without staging internal rivalry in the coalitions.
The numbers will not only guarantee parties more billions from taxpayers but will also ensure Azimio government bags an overwhelming majority in both houses to push its legislative agenda.
Musalia Mudavadi's ANC on Wednesday lost its bid to allow the members of a coalition to stage internal contests for elective seats other than the presidency.
The beauty of this four-month time frame is it leaves ample time for extensive consultations and concurrence on ideology, manifestos and lineups. They still have time to popularise candidates
In further changes, coalition plans must be deposited with the Registrar of Political Parties by April 9, 120 days to the polls.
In the past, parties unveiled coalition plans a few days to the general election.
Eldas MP and Jubilee Joint Parliamentary Group secretary Adan Keynan said amendment of the coalition formation timeline to four months from the initially suggested six months was a critical necessity. It guarantees practicability of the Bill for realistic formation of national coalitions ahead of elections.
"As you know, all winning coalitions and formations in the history of this country have cropped up in under four months to the polls. The beauty of this four-month time frame is that it leaves ample time for extensive consultations and concurrence among political players on ideology, manifestos and lineups and they still have adequate time to popularise their candidates," he told the Star.
Keynan added, "The 2002 unveiling of the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) and the 2012 TNA-URP coalition launch in less than four months to the elections gives a critical historical context to this provision."
Parties would also have to reserve a name, symbol and slogan within 90 days prior to registration, hence, closing the window for a last-minute rush to register parties.
Nominations by political parties would also be under the ambit of the Office of Registrar of Political Parties in the new sweeping powers given to the office.
Presidential candidates will run on the coalition party ticket in a new set up that heralds a 2022 National Rainbow Coalition type of arrangement that swept Kanu from power.
Raila’s Azimio La Umoja is poised to bring under its roof several political parties that have indicated they are backing the ODM leader’s State House bid.
Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi’s PNU, David Ochieng’s MDG and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi’s Pan African Alliance are some of the parties supporting Raila.
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said the legislation has taken into account the reality that coalition governments are here to stay.
“It will provide a framework for establishment and management of political parties and coalitions,” the chairman of Public Accounts Committee said.
On Wednesday, MPs sat late into the night to pass the Bill, marking a major advance for Uhuru and Raila whose plans rely on the new law.
The Bill now moves to the Senate for concurrence.
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka has confirmed that senators will have a special sitting on Tuesday next week to consider the Bill.
“The Senate Business House Committee will sit and agree on the modalities but the sitting will be held on Tuesday,” he said.
Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi said the Bill drastically changes the political landscape especially for 20222.
According to Osotsi, having the Azimio La Umoja movement as a political party will enable the former Prime Minister reach areas where he has not been able to field candidates in the past.
“That is why DP Ruto's team was aggressively fighting the law because that bit will be an advantage to Azimio,” Osotsi said.
The MP said the umbrella coalition party will have joint nominations, effectively eliminating sibling rivalry that cost Nasa many seats.
“Party primaries are now going to be structured in a way that only members of a political party will participate, unlike in the past when you will find people voting for parties they do not belong to it,” the ANC lawmaker said.
“Parties will only have to apply to Registrar and within seven days the Registrar will provide a certified register of members.”
(Edited by V. Graham)
