Azimio plots powerful office for Raila
Azimio leaders push to have the office of the official opposition leader could see the Constitution amended to embed a powerful office that will keep the government in check.
The Bill, drafted by a technical committee of the coalition and dubbed the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, could see the law revised through a parliamentary initiative to create the office of the official opposition leader and their deputy.
The office, to be funded by the Exchequer, will have “all such powers and discretion necessary to solicit and mobilise for funding from all such sources, including donor funding to supplement its budgetary allocations to finance its various activities”.
According to Article 92A (3) of the proposed document, the leader of the official opposition will be allowed to identify and appoint “such staff as shall be necessary for the execution of the said office whose remuneration, benefits and allowances shall be drawn from the Exchequer subject to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.”
The push also seeks to amend Article 260 of the Constitution to include the office of the leader of opposition under the category of ‘state office’.
“The leader of opposition shall be the candidate nominated by a political party or coalition party or coalition of political parties which secures the second greatest number of votes in any concluded presidential elections and whose political party receives at least 25 per cent of all the members of the National Assembly,” states the draft Bill.
Sources familiar with the matter within Azimio told the Nation that coalition leaders Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper Party were updated on the plans at the Parliamentary Group meeting on Tuesday.
“It is a work in progress. Let’s compare notes on Friday after the Bill is presented to our principals,” the source told the Nation.
