Francis Nyenze, Moses Wetang’ula under fire as Cord falters in opposition role

The performance of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) in both Houses of Parliament has come under scrutiny amid calls for a change of leadership in the National Assembly and the Senate.

However, the issue is not new to the coalition which has been struggling to find its footing after failing to win last year’s General Election, as it has been discussed in at least three of its joint parliamentary group meetings.

During the meetings, MPs have almost unanimously agreed that leadership is missing in both Houses of Parliament but they gave their leaders more time to pull up their socks.

Since then, MPs have complained that often even when a critical issue is coming up for debate they go to the House without clarity on where the coalition stands. A number of times National Assembly Minority Leader Francis Nyenze and his deputy Jakoyo Midiwo have themselves been missing from critical House debates, leaving their colleagues leaderless.

Also in the spotlight are Public Accounts Committee chairman Ababu Namwamba and his Public Investments Committee counterpart Adan Keynan over their leadership of the two powerful parliamentary watchdogs and whether they are keeping the Jubilee government on its toes as they should.

MPs who talked to the Sunday Nation said Mr Midiwo has often explained that he is just a deputy and cannot initiate anything unless his boss, Mr Nyenze, a former Cabinet minister, tells him to do so to avoid being accused of undermining his boss.

MP Gideon Mung’aro, the ODM Whip, has also explained that it would be odd for him to hold meetings on parliamentary issues outside the umbrella of Cord. Often, he waits for guidance from Mr Nyenze to whom he is answerable but never gets it.

NO COMMON POSITION

Today, as controversy rages over tackling of insecurity and claims of ethnic and religious profiling in the war against terrorism, Cord MPs and senators have no common position on the matter. There has been no meeting to take a stand. Instead, Mr Nyenze has supported the operation while a number of MPs oppose it. (READ: You have failed, Cord leaders told)

There is also a strong feeling in ODM that affiliate Cord parties are riding on its back and that they are weakening it.

Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, who re-ignited the debate this week, says: “I am not being malicious. I am expressing what our supporters and opponents alike are saying: that we are failing to keep the government in check. We know the problem is leadership. We have discussed and agreed that it is the problem. We are not going to waste another year.”

A number of MPs view Mr Nyenze as flat and uninspiring.

“When debate comes up in the House, the first chance is given to Leader of Majority, followed by Leader of Minority. Often when Nyenze rises to speak, he does not inspire his colleagues to rise and take on the government. A number just collect their files and leave,” a Wiper MP, who asked not to be named to avoid antagonising his party bosses, told the Sunday Nation.

Due to their backgrounds in Kanu, critics view Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula and Mr Nyenze as essentially establishment fellows who cannot be expected to play active opposition politics.
“Mr Nyenze does not believe in pushing the government. He is too old to change,” an MP said.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka is said to be in dilemma over calls to replace Mr Nyenze to avoid a backlash in Ukambani. Cord supporters are said to be pushing Mr Musyoka to replace Mr Nyenze with a younger, more vibrant MP, but that has not worked.

According to the vocal Suna East MP, whose views are widely shared by many supporters who do not want the ODM boat to sink prior to 2017 elections, Cord has been a disappointment as an opposition. “One can look back to the Seventh Parliament, which marked the return of opposition politics after 1992 elections or the Eighth Parliament and see heart-rending differences between opposition then and now,” Mr Mohammad said.

Despite being outnumbered, the opposition of Seventh and Eighth Parliaments was able to keep Kanu regime on its toes and push for fundamental changes that eventually led to the Constitution passed in 2010.

“The opposition then understood that having lost the battle for the control of the Executive branch of government, the next option was to use the Legislative branch to fight for Kenyans. They did it with dignity, commitment and resolve. They did not wait for Kanu to come up with programmes after which they would state their position. They set the agenda,” Mr Mohammad said.

He added: “That is missing today, and we cannot blame it on either former Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka or former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.”

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Mr Mohammad said Mr Nyenze and Mr Wetang’ula must take responsibility for Cord’s uninspiring role in opposition.

“We must not live in denial and we must not hide under some pre-election coalition agreement. Under-performance could not have been part of the agreement,” Mr Mohammad said. He added that Mr Nyenze and Mr Wetang’ula were once strong in Kanu politics and must be aware of how the opposition kept Kanu on its toes.

“Kenyans deserve nothing less today. The alternative is for the leadership in both Houses of Parliament to step aside and pave way for new and more vibrant leaders. Instead of threats, let these leaders account for what they have done so far,” Mr Mohammad said.

But Mr Nyenze dismissed Mr Mohammed’s claims saying there was no leadership crisis in both Houses.

“I don’t want to escalate the war through the media. Every time there is an issue, they usually resuscitate the claims,” Mr Nyenze said, referring to opposition by some ODM leaders to plans by Wetang’ula’s Ford-K to field a candidate in Nyando by-election.

Mr Nyenze said both him and Mr Wetang’ula have fostered good leadership having been Cabinet ministers and led their private businesses well.

“Mr Wetang’ula has been Cabinet minister. He has led his law firm well. I have also been a Cabinet minister and I run my construction firm well. How have we been able to hold big positions if we can’t offer good leadership? Those criticising us should know we are their leaders,” Mr Nyenze said.

He noted that he had talked with senior ODM members who told him Mr Mohammed’s position was not that of the party but of a few disgruntled members.

“Let them not rattle Cord as this could rock the coalition. When they attempted to remove Mung’aro, ODM nearly lost Coast support. If they remove Mr Wetang’ula and me, they will weaken the coalition. In fact, they will be courting divorce,” Mr Nyenze said.

He said Mr Wetang’ula and he were holding their positions because they were clearly negotiated by parties and that there’s nothing “a few disgruntled elements can do”.

He said his deputy Mr Midiwo is free to lead Cord members in Parliament if they felt he was not performing. Mr Nyenze said those complaining about their performance should instead wait for a joint Cord meeting to air their grievances “as it is only coalition members who can review it”.

Mr Nyenze said criticism about Mr Wetang’ula and his performance could be as a result of Ford-K plans to field candidates in some ODM strongholds in the coming by-elections and an announcement by Wiper members that party leader Musyoka will be on the ballot in the 2017 presidential election.