News
Team to discuss Opposition Bill
Mr Namwamba (above) and his colleagues used the recent break to lobby and promote the Bill saying, the Coalition Government must be put on check by an official opposition.
Posted Thursday, October 9 2008 at 21:04
The stage was Thursday set for a showdown between MPs pushing for establishment of an office of the Official Opposition and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The House Business Committee gave Mr Ababu Namwamba (Budalangi, ODM) the green light to move the National Assembly Parliamentary Opposition Bill Number 18.
The Bill was read for the first time by the ODM MP and then referred to the parliamentary committee on Administration of Justice and Constitutional Affairs chaired by Mandera Central legislator Mohamed Abdikadir for scrutiny before it is returned to members for debate.
Speaker Kenneth Marende overruled Local Government assistant minister Robinson Githae, when he rose to suggest that Mr Namwamba was out of order by moving a motion, which was opposed by his party leader. “Is the member in order to move this Bill yet he swore allegiance to Raila!”
The Speaker told Mr Githae that the parliamentary committee will interrogate merits and demerits of the proposed legislation.
Mr Namwamba and his colleagues used the recent break to lobby and promote the Bill saying, the Coalition Government must be put on check by an official opposition.
Others backing the Bill are Mr Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito, ODM-K), Mr Cyrus Jirongo (Lugari, Kaddu), Mr Mithika Linturi (Igembe South, Kanu), Mr Charles Kilonzo (Yatta, ODM-K) and Mr Joshua Kutuny of Cherangany. The Budalang’i MP and his colleagues claim to have the backing of 70 MPs.
Weaken party
But Mr Odinga, who is the ODM leader and Lang’ata MP, has argued that the members fronting for the official opposition would weaken the party during crucial votes.
President Kibaki and the PM signed a national accord in February to end post-election violence and pave way for the formation of a Coalition Government and power-sharing between PNU and ODM.
According to the current House Standing Orders, an opposition party must have at least 30 MPs for its leader to be recognised as the Official Opposition head.
Previous holders of the office include Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta and Ford Kenya founder Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
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Submitted by nani_ngombePosted October 10, 2008 10:56 AM
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Submitted by yesuwangu
opposition bills is not urgent or important now anyone in his capacity as an MP can function as coalition checker refered to as opposition.These mps should push important bills like constitution review,IDPS,Taxation bills,8.4.4 review corruption bill ,grand regency,ECK overhaul,water problems,railway ,ARMs bought.etc with the numbers which are crucial in the lives of kenyans.these is just time wasting tactics by some MPs
Posted October 10, 2008 02:25 AM -
Submitted by aggruy
What concerns me with Namwamba is, why can't he resign and seek fresh mandate to lead the opposition. How can you oppose your own party, what is this miguu ndani miguu nje!!! There is alot to be done in Kenya, people are still living in cold tents.
Posted October 10, 2008 12:57 AM -
Submitted by SJ502
We had some relative calm from these politicians the last two months. Now it's back to business as usual- mediocre talk shows as opposed to meaningful debate to curb inflation, hunger and Aids.
Posted October 09, 2008 11:43 PM
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Namwamba, I have no objection to your vision. But remember this: 2012 is only three years away and we have a lot of ground to cover. We need a strong ECK, an indepedent Judiciary that can deliver, a Constitution that recognizes minority tribes and at least a reformed healthcare. If you people in parliament cannot pass those first three, then be sure that 2012 is the beginning of a deadly civil war in Kenya. No kidding! The dress rehearsal has been done.