On the sidelines of the ongoing week-long induction programme for members of the National Assembly, MPs from both sides made a case for the position, which is awaiting determination by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
Both sides have unveiled names for the majority positions.
Seven UDM elected MPs have, however, protested against continued listing as members of Azimio despite their move to Kenya Kwanza.
In a letter to the Speaker, the MPs distanced themselves from the coalition party, saying they are not bonafide members of Azimio following a post-election deal they inked with the ruling coalition.
“The Registrar of Political Parties knowingly disregarded the law and has unlawfully associated us and indeed our party with a non-existent coalition agreement with the Azimio coalition,” the MPs said in a letter to Wetang’ula.
They are Ibrahim Roba (Mandera) and Mohamed Sheikh Abbas (Wajir), and MNA Hassan Maalim (Banisa), Bashir Abdullahi (Garissa North), Abdul Ebrahim (Mandera South), Mangale Munga (Lunga Lunga), Adan Haji (Mandera West), Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), Umulkheir Kassim (Mandera), Sulekha Harun (nominated) and Mariam Omar (nominated).
On Sunday, Kenya Kwanza Majority leader-designate Kimani Ichung'wah said the ruling coalition will name the majority leader in the National Assembly, as no member was elected on an Azimio ticket.
According to records at the Registrar, Azimio has 172 MPs against Kenya Kwanza’s 165 lawmakers.
But this has changed with the recent realignments that saw a number of Azimio MPs crossing over to Kenya Kwanza.
Azimio Majority leader-designate Opiyo Wandayi termed Kenya Kwanza claim of majority status one borne out of ignorance of the law.
“The question on which side is the majority is not there. Anyone who is conversant with the law knows that Azimio is the majority,” Wandayi said.
“It is not the duty of the Speaker to declare which side is the majority.”
The position was supported by former Minority leader John Mbadi, who said the matter is settled by the law as amended.
The nominated MP dismissed claims that Azimio lost its majority status after mass exodus of its members to Kenya Kwanza.
“Article 108 defines who is supposed to be the Majority leader. Loyalty can shift but there is a legal provision, until that marriage is dissolved you cannot enter into another marriage,” Mbadi said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
