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Kenya: Don't Order Us, MPs Say Over Grand Opposition
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The Nation (Nairobi)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
Muchemi Wachira
Nairobi
Backbenchers seem determined to continue with their quest for an official Opposition in Parliament despite caution by leaders to abandon the idea.
During a Press conference at Parliament Buildings on Monday, four MPs said that they don't take orders from anyone, not even the President.
"We don't take instructions from anyone. This matter cannot be blocked outside Parliament," MP Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu, ODM) said.
Others included Julius Kones (Konoin, ODM), Boni Khalwale (Ikolomani, New Ford Kenya) and John Mututho (Naivasha, Kanu).
The four were reacting to calls by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula, who had advised against a grand Opposition.
Speaking separately, the three said that since the major political parties have come together to form a coalition Government, MPs should keep the Government on its toes while in their back benches.
National Accord
Mr Odinga, who is the ODM leader, told his party's MPs that by forming a grand Opposition they would be undermining the principles of the National Accord.
The law says that for a political party to form an official Opposition in Parliament, it must have at least 30 MPs.
Since major political parties are in the grand coalition Government, the others that did not join do not qualify to form an official Opposition.
And the law does not also allow a group of MPs from different political parties to form an official Opposition.
While dismissing the move, the PM accused proponents of the plan of resorting to the idea because they were not named into the Cabinet.
He dared the MPs to resign first if they wanted to form an official Opposition.
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The four MPs said a motion authorising a Bill that will formalise the official Opposition had already been passed. The motion, backed by 80 MPs, was brought to the House by Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba.
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