Business Daily (Nairobi)
Mwaura Kimani
7 May 2008
An attempt by backbenchers to have Parliament amend Standing Orders to pave the way for the recognition of a Grand Coalition Opposition yesterday crossed the first hurdle when MPs allowed the introduction of a private Members Bill to regulate the opposition.
If the Official Opposition Bill, to be introduced by Budalangi Member Ababu Namwamba goes on to become law, MPs from various political parties will form a coalition opposition to keep the grand coalition government in check.
The House was left without an Official opposition after the four leading parties - PNU, ODM, ODM Kenya and Kanu - were roped into government in the wake of the disputed presidential election results. A recognised opposition would ensure the excesses of the Executive are checked, working together with various watchdog committees formed last week.
There are concerns that House watchdog committees like Public Investments (PIC) and Public Accounts (PAC) may not provide effective checks against the executive as they are dominated by individuals from parties in government and others tainted with corruption.
The confusion arising from the new political establishment also threw into disarray the naming of the Parliamentary committees-Parliament's most powerful instruments through which all legislation passes for amendment prior to reaching the floor of the House.
Standing Orders and the Kenyan Constitution require that only a party with not less than 30 MPs can be recognised as the Official Opposition. But with the major parties in Government, the other smaller parties cannot form the Opposition unless they coalesce and the law recognises them. House Speaker Kenneth Marende had asked MPs seeking to form the Official Opposition to introduce the motion to amend the Standing Orders.
Some political analysts had questioned the MPs motive for pushing for a "Grand Opposition", saying they were disgruntled after being left out of the Government formed early last month. They said the new hybrid government was likely to confuse opposition and committee membership and posed the danger of MPs endorsing Bills through collective nod-without scrutiny.
Should the Bill sail through Parliament, it will see the naming of an occupant to the vacant office of Leader of Official Opposition. This MP would lead the crucial Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC).
Among other roles, the PAC supervises how State corporations spend and invest the billions of shillings allocated to them every financial year. In the absence of credible Official Opposition, PAC and PIC, there is the danger of the Government spending without being checked by the representatives of the people.
While moving the motion, Mr Namwamba said in the absence of an Official Opposition, the country could slide back to mismanagement, especially in handling public resources. Kenya's recovery from the post election crisis that dented its image in the international community pushing away investors relied on the way the power-sharing Cabinet and Parliament would play their role.
Many Kenyans and analysts say Parliament will be hard pressed to pass a slate of key financial and economic measures, up to and including the annual budget and long-sought constitutional reforms.
Pressure for reform is particularly expected to mount as Kenyans grapple with the expected souring of food and fuel prices in the next couple of months--as the cost of living continues to rise.
Traditionally, House committees are chaired by MPs from the Opposition but comprise of backbenchers from all parliamentary parties based on their numerical strength.
These provisions have been rendered irrelevant under the Grand Coalition leaving successful lobbying as the only viable means of assuming leadership of the committees.
Positions in the committees offer MPs the opportunity to influence or shape proposed legislation through detailed scrutiny before they are tabled before the House.
MPs earn huge allowances for attending committee meetings in addition to a regular pay of Sh850,000 per month.
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