Azimio legislators meet to review elections, amid implosion claims
Azimio Parliamentary Group have planned a retreat tomorrow at Stoni Athi to take stock of the outcome of the election and to agree on the leadership positions in Parliament.
This even as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), lawmakers had an implosion in a WhatsApp group on one of the close allies of the Opposition chief Raila Odinga.
Sources told People Daily that the members spent part of the day discussing the outcome of the just-concluded elections, vowing that Suna East MP Junet Mohamed should not be awarded any position of leadership in Parliament.
ODM legislators John Mbadi (Nominated), Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) and Junet Mohamed (Suna East) are angling the Leader of Majority seat in the National Assembly.
Should any of them be picked as the Leader of Majority, he will be deputized by Kibwezi East MP Jessica Mbalu (Wiper) while Majority Whip and deputy have not been filled. Mbalu (right) is a third-term MP and was previously a member of the Speaker’s panel in the 12th Parliament.
There has been contention on which party boasts of a high number of elected National Assembly members after the August polls.
Last week, Mbadi said the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu had clarified the issue and Kenya Kwanza members should be “contented with the minority status.”
“It has been clarified which parties are under Azimio legally as of now and those which are under Kenya Kwanza and if you look at the numbers Azimio la Umoja is the majority party in the National Assembly,” he said.
In the Senate, Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo) is angling for the Minority Leader position to be deputized by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ while Senators Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Ledama Ole Kina (Narok) and Agnes Kavindu (Machakos) are eyeing the Minority Whip positions.
In the last Senate, Dullo served as the deputy majority leader under the Jubilee.
In the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) John Waluke (Sirisia) and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga want to represent Azimio.
“We have lit it up. We have told Junet off. The next few days will be very interesting. The position of the members is that Junet should not be anywhere near any leadership in parliament,” said a source who sought anonymity.
Asked whether he positioned himself for the House leadership position, Junet responded by asking: “Where did I say that I want to be any leader.” Junet who is also the Azimio Secretary General did not disclose whether the Parliamentary Group for the coalition will still take place tomorrow at Stoni Athi or not.
