An agreement to change the constitution in order to create the positions of prime minister and leader of official opposition made last evening forced Azimio la Umoja to call off what would have been another round of anti-government protests today morning.
After weeks of tough talk and grandstanding by politicians allied with the government and those from the opposition, both sides agreed at the last minute to call a cease-fire by creating a political win-win situation.
Apparently, talks between the two sides began behind the scenes last weekend. This is why Tuesday’s protests by Azimio flopped across the country. As their supporters were waiting for them to turn up, Azimio leaders were holed up in a meeting at Upperhill only to emerge after 4 pm to announce further protests on Thursday.
“Tomorrow, we take a break to strategise and recharge. Our protests will resume on Thursday, May 4. Same meeting point. Same offices. Same petitions. Same people,” said opposition leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday evening.
It is now emerging that the government had already extended an olive branch to Azimio by Monday through a raft of concessions that could lead Kenya to a referendum to change the constitution.
Some of the ideas floated to Azimio are the creation of two key offices; that of the prime minister and that of the leader of the official opposition. Azimio however wanted Eldas member of parliament Adan Keynan to be removed from the bipartisan committee talks team as he is a Jubilee party member.
“We in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya announce, on a without prejudice basis, that we are prepared to go back to the bipartisan talks with our opposite side in Kenya Kwanza and are prepared to stand down the demonstration scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, May 4, provided that Kenya Kwanza recuses Adan Keynan from the bipartisan committee and immediately announces his replacement,” said Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
This demand was the first one to be agreed upon. In his place, Saku MP Dido Raso was picked.
“As we have always stated, we are willing to bend backward for the sake of the progress of the country, national unity, and stability of the nation,” said National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa.
“Our objection to Keynan was a matter of principle and we were clear from the word go on this issue,” Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, the committee’s co-chair said.
The removal of Keynan from the committee immediately set the wheels rolling with highly choreographed maneuvres crafted to appease both the opposition and Kenya Kwanza supporters. Ichung’wa and Wandayi both appeared before the National Assembly Petitions Committee where they both supported a change in the constitution.
“The idea of creating the office of the Leader of Official Opposition above and beyond mere minority parliamentary leadership makes tremendous sense in terms of institutionalising governance, strengthening oversight and deepening democracy,” said Ichung’wa.
He further explained that it is unfair that candidates seeking to contest the presidential seat are locked out from vying for parliamentary seats.
“This effectively locks out the leader of the minority side from meaningful political participation and they are now left to rely on the minority House leadership to perform the function of oversight,” Mr Ichungw’a said.
On his part, Wandayi said Azimio is ready to support the creation of the offices only if the changes are subjected to a referendum.
“An amendment with such far-reaching proposals must be taken to the people for approval,” Mr Wandayi said.
The idea of having a prime minister was contained in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) courtesy of the handshake between former president Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila. The creation of the office of the official opposition leader is contained in a memo that President William Ruto wrote to parliament in December last year.
“We are not afraid of being kept in check but it should be done in a patriotic manner. We encourage our friends in the opposition. We have no quarrel with them doing whatever it is that they are doing as an opposition to keep their oversight role. All we are asking them is that we must do this in an environment of peace and being patriots so that we can do what is good for the people of Kenya,” Ruto said.
The President noted that empowering the opposition would bring much-needed transformation to the country.
“I am a great believer in an accountable government and that is what we want our oversight institutions to be empowered so that they can help us run an accountable government which will bring transformation,” President Ruto added.
