WHY THE CREATION OF OFFICE OF OFFICIAL OPPOSITION LEADER IS VERY MUCH IN ORDER?

 President William Ruto last week made bold steps towards opening up not only democracy in this Country but also transparency in this Government. He saw the need to create the office of official opposition leader who will be funded by the exchequer and will be attending both houses of Parliament, Senate and National Assembly. The opposition leader , who currently is ODM leader and Azimio la Umoja captain Raila Odinga, will be having a leeway in scrutinizing the auditor general, controller of budget , report from the public investment committee and public accounts committee reports on how the government is spending the taxpayers monies. Also, the official opposition leader will be posing questions to cabinet secretaries both orally when they are summoned in the national assembly or through writing and a feed back made back to his office furnished with answers of the issues he would have raised. On this one , I have regarded president Ruto with high esteem. Coming from him, it not only shocked Kenyans but even me as a person. Through the National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung'wa, a bill to amend the constitution inorder to pave way to the creation of that vital office in the land will be tabled very soon. To amend the constitution through a parliamentary way , the ruling coalition will require a majority of 233 out of 349 members. 

This is a bill which will see the light of the day very easily because, it has blessings from both political divides, Azimio la Umoja one Kenya coalition party and Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Though, there are murmurs inside a faction of legislators from Kenya Kwanza Alliance that , President Ruto is trying to introduce the handshake between him and Raila Odinga through the back door. This is very disheartening and led by people who are very unpatriotic. When the BBI which former President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga were pushing sailed through, as we speak , this office would be existing now. It was domiciled in the BBI report. Those created this office in the BBI didn't single out the person who will occupy that office. It was for prosperity and ensure that , the sitting Government is put to task by the opposition not to transgress in people's rights and rule of law. To ensure proper governance and that , taxpayers monies are used in a prudent manner. An opposition leader is not a leader of a rebel movement. That's why , this office must be enshrined in our constitution. The committee of experts (CoEs) , which drafted the 2010 constitution created this office only for the 11th Parliament, through a select committee on legislation mutilated that constitution, erased this office and introduced the minority leader in both houses, Senate and National Assembly to oversee opposition roles. 12 years after we haven't seen a robust opposition from the holders of this positions. That's why , we need a runners up in a presidential election to be executing his opposition roles inside parliament and not from the streets and press conferences. We want Raila Odinga in Parliament. With 6.9 million votes , it is unfair not to recognize him. It is not only him because, 2022 August 9th presidential election isn't the last one to be held in Kenya, come 2027 , the second Tuesday of August, kenyans will head to the ballot again.

The first official opposition leader under multi party democracy in Kenya was Ford Asili's the late Kenneth Matiba , the second was Democratic Party, the late Mwai Kibaki and the last was KANU's Uhuru Kenyatta. In 2007 to 2013 , there was no office of official opposition leader because, after the disputed presidential election , there was power sharing between PNU's Mwai Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga. A grand coalition through the national accord was formed. There was no opposition. The 2010 constitution was mutilated as I have pointed up there and MPs , drawn from both KANU, PNU , Ford Kenya , Ford People , ODM and ODM-Kenya ( Wiper Party) in unison at Naivasha, removed that clause that created the office of official opposition and replaced it with minority leader in both Senate and National Assembly. Opposition is the government in waiting. The excesses of the government in office cannot be left to the very goverment to check on itself. It is not possible. That's why , a country like Kenya which uses the Westminster model of political system, the office of opposition leader is very vital. I am wondering why the paranoia is coming from especially from legislators in Kenya Kwanza Alliance who comes from Mt Kenya region. Raila Odinga isn't joining the government, he is joining the opposition but this time instead parliament. Why are they fearing?? I fully understand where the fear is coming from but that is a topic for another day.

As the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja troops are gearing to amend the constitution to create the office of the official opposition leader and not amending the constitution to scrap the presidential term limits, majority of Kenyans who fully understand the role opposition plays in a democracy are happy and are welcoming that move. The government must be checked and criticism from the opposition should be centred on its operations and not witch hunt. President Ruto has been repeating that , he wants a formidable and serious opposition bench to put him and his regime to task. When he echoed that , he is ready to marshall his troops in the national assembly to create the office of official opposition leader, who will have a fully furnished and stocked office, footed by the taxpayers through the exchequer, it was wise. We will have a shadow cabinet in the opposition that will make Cabinet Secretaries, who off late been throwing policy directives and decisions in a haphazard manner to be held responsible. They will be on their own. There is no time the president will come to their rescue when they are being held accountable on what is going on in their respective ministries.

To all those who voted for the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, it is through opposition that the many promises to you will be fulfilled. During the CAMPAIGNS, the hustlersl fund was to be interest Free if Ruto managed to form the government. He managed but as we speak, the hustler fund is out and has attracted an interest capping of 8% to the detriment of the hustlers who now feel betrayed. Many more promises made by this Government will be fulfilled by the opposition constant reminding the government to honour what it promised and not amending promises to hoodwink Kenyans. On the other hand , Raila Odinga should remember this , the office being created is a public office. He must executive the responsibilities and functions of that office. He will be payed for working for Kenyans and not for Azimio la Umoja one Kenya Alliance. If monies ment for Kenyans are misappropriated and embezzled without him raising any alarm , it won't augur well with Kenyans. So , the paranoia from Mt Kenya region political honchos who aren't happy with President Ruto move should just relax. No one is eating their cake. YES!!! Let them relax.