A faction of the Jubilee Party led by EALA MP Kanini Kega has proposed to the Bipartisan team to have runners-up in the presidential elections lead the opposition teams in the bicameral Parliament.
The faction has vowed to work with President William Ruto.
In a proposal to the Bipartisan team, the Kega faction of the Jubilee party said the presidential candidate who comes second in an election should be the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
According to the proposal, the running-mate should automatically lead the minority side in the Senate.
If adopted, the proposal will have far-reaching consequences as it will mark the end of the leaders of minorities.
“You know Jubilee initially had talks about the winner takes it all, our proposal is now broader. If we are going to have the office of Leader of the opposition should be in the national assembly and the deputy be the leader of the opposition at the senate. So that any party does not feel left outside,” Nominated MP Sabina Chege said.
“The runner-up after the General Election occupies that office in the national assembly and the deputy takes that position in the Senate,” added Eldas MP Adan Keynan.
The proposal will be a complete departure from the current set-up where the minority party nominates the minority leaders in the two houses from among its elected MPs
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi is the current leader of the minority in the National Assembly while Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo holds the same position in the Senate.
The creation of the Leader of Opposition is among the ten broad agenda that the Bomas team are currently considering.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya when they appeared before the ten-man team co-chaired by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’ah and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, the Jubilee rival faction also called for organizers of demonstrations to be compelled to pay for any damages.
Kega said those behind demos that turn violent leading to loss of property, life or earnings should take responsibility and compensate the affected persons.
On the impending boundaries delimitation, the Kega team wants the 26 counties that did not meet the population quota during the 2012 review preserved.
“The 26 constituencies that did not meet the threshold should be preserved,” Kega said.
Some constituencies protected by the Ligale Commission include Lamu East, Lamu West, Mvita, Mwatate, Wundanyi, Voi, Bura, Galole, Isiolo South, Kilome, Laisamis, North Horr, Saku, Siakago (now Mbeere North), Ndaragwa, Tetu, Murkurweini, Othaya and Kangema.
These are some of the constituencies that risk losing their status for not meeting the population quota.
Others are Mathioya, Samburu East, Marakwet East, Keiyo North, Mogotio, Vihiga and Budalang’i.
The Ligale Commission decided these constituencies could continue to exist — with the understanding they would be assessed in the next boundary review.
According to Sabina, the boundary review process should be expanded to settle the boundary disputes between two or more counties.
