John Ngirachu
4 July 2008
Nairobi — The Grand Opposition lobby will next week table a Bill that seeks to establish an official Opposition in the form of a caucus of backbenchers.
Speaking on behalf of the MPs Thursday, Budalang'i legislator Ababu Namwamba said the Bill, copies of which were given to journalists, was with the Government Printer and would be tabled as soon as it is ready.
Mr Namwamba said the controversial sale of the Grand Regency Hotel re-energised the group to push for an Opposition to check the excesses of the Government.
He was speaking at Central Police Station where five MPs were negotiating the release of two people arrested during protests against Finance minister Amos Kimunya over the sale of the hotel.
The group has in the past failed to establish a recognised Opposition with an official leader due to the Parliament Standing Orders, which state that a party must have at least 30 members to be recognised as the official Opposition.
The Bill seeks to allow any 30 MPs from opposition parties to notify the Speaker of their intention to establish a back bench caucus after each informs his or her parliamentary group of the intention to join the caucus. The caucus shall be constituted within 30 days from this notification.
There is also a provision to allow any MP who is not in the Cabinet and is not an assistant minister to join the caucus if those in the Opposition number less than 30. Membership can be ended by choice, removal via a vote of the members or appointment into the Government.
The caucus shall however not be regarded as a political party. Its leader, who will be recognised as the leader of the Official Opposition, will be elected by its members, will serve for the full term of the Parliament and cannot be appointed to Government.
The Bill seeks to fill the space left by the formation of the grand coalition Government which includes all but one party, Mr Cyrus Jirongo's Kaddu.
Other MPs present were Jirongo (Lugari), Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito), Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany), Wilson Litole (Sigor) and Edwin Yinda (Alego-Usonga).
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