PNU and ODM dig in for battle

Coalition partners PNU and ODM are back to fighting each other just days after President Kibaki withdrew the controversial list of nominees to State offices.

PNU, the President’s party and its allies, have agreed to use their numerical strength in Parliament to weaken Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s position.

Their first salvo at Mr Odinga is the move to topple his ally, Mr Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i) from the chair of the Justice and Legal affairs committee. (Read: PNU plot against Namwamba)

But in a counter move, ODM is seeking to kick rebel MPs out of House committees.

On Thursday, the party wrote to Speaker Kenneth Marende seeking to replace Mr Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu) and Sophia Abdi (Nominated) from the Justice and Legal Affairs committee. (Read: ODM moves to block Ababu ouster)

Mr Ruto and Ms Abdi sided with PNU in the anti-Namwamba plot. The party wants to replace them with Ms Rachel Shebesh and Joyce Laboso.

ODM is also seeking the support of MPs from parties such as Narc Kenya who do not tow the PNU line.

“We have at least 50 MPs on our side who are not ODM members. This idea of a majority they claim is false,” said ODM Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo.

The Orange party, which says it has the support of the masses, has also chosen to target the public to explain its position over the implementation of the Constitution through a series of rallies beginning with one in Kakamega this weekend.

Away from the truce the public display of friendship, the inner circles of the President and PM are busy seeking ways of cutting each others political clout ahead of the 2012 elections.

Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni said PNU were seeking to replace Mr Odinga as Prime Minister.

‘‘I am aware of plans to replace the Prime Minister and names of Dalmas Otieno and an assistant minister have been floated. This I will support.’’

The President’s allies are counting on the change in the numbers they command in Parliament, which have increased since suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto ditched Mr Odinga.

The PNU side now says that it has 131 MPs on its side including 28 from Ruto’s ODM faction.

While stating that he was reluctant to support the idea of a motion of no-confidence in the PM, Mr Kioni said the fact that some ODM MPs no longer trust the PM has negatively affected his standing in the House.

“Even if there is no motion of confidence, the fact that people in your party have lost confidence in you means you have no mandate to that position you hold,” he said.

He went on: “It means you have lost the faith of MPs and you have no credibility to rule. That is very bad and you can’t allow it because you don’t have the mandate.”

Trade Minister Chirau Mwakwere said Mr Odinga had become a “nuisance” by always creating conflict between him and President Kibaki.

It was “unacceptable” , he said, for the PM to insist that the Ocampo Six must be tried at The Hague “yet the whole of Africa was supporting Kenya in its quest of getting a deferral for a year”.

“Why does he think that he can actually go against the rest of the country and continent? May be we need someone who can actually do this job better,” said Mr Mwakwere.

Kaloleni MP and Medical Services Assistant Minister Kambi Kazungu said that they were seeking to use the numbers to ensure that ODM does not manipulate Parliament’s agenda.

“Our parliamentary strength means we have the numbers and can control the business in the house. We can set the Agenda and reject attempts by people who try to manipulate Kenyans and the Constitution in their favour. We cannot allow ODM to abuse the constitution to fit their power seeking agenda,” he said.

PNU Chief Whip Johnstone Muthama said they are planning to use the new found numbers to work their way through Parliamentary business.

“We have the majority and we are not going to intimidate others. However, we will use our numbers to pass Government motions so as to serve Kenyans on the best way possible. We will deal with issues as they arise,” said Mr Muthama.

Already a motion of no confidence against Mr Odinga is expected before the house on Wednesday.