A section of Members of Parliament allied to the National Super Alliance (NASA) from the coastal region has threatened to ditch their Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and support Jubilee Party led by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Addressing journalists on Monday, September 18, the Legislators protested a move by the coalition to appoint some individuals to parliamentary positions 'without consultations'.
The MPs expressed their anger and dissatisfaction with the coalition angered after they found out that a number of leaders had been appointed yet no one was picked from the coast region.
Led by Msambweni Lawmaker Suleiman Dorithe group noted that the appointments were unfair and threatened to conduct a mass exodus.
Following the threats, Mr Odinga was forced to disown the list and stating that consultations have to be held in such matters adding that the issue of the House positions with be dealt with conclusively in the Parliamentary Group meeting.
“I don’t know the list that is doing rounds. I know that we are going to sit down and agree as Nasa parliamentary group family,” Odinga stated.
NASA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Norman Magaya also rejected the list stating that the coalition was yet to agree on the new leaders.
"The purported line-up doing the rounds in public, mainstream and social media with regard to the positions of minority leaders and their deputies and minority whips and their deputies in both houses has not been sanctioned and/or approved by the leadership of NASA and the parliamentary group,” Magaya's statement read in part.
On Monday, the coalition confirmed that Suba North Member of Parliament John Mbadi was the new leader of the minority in the National Assembly deputised by Lugari MP Ayub Savula of the Amani National Congress (ANC).
Kathiani MP Robert Mbui of the Wiper Party was named as the minority whip in the National Assembly assisted by Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa of the Ford-Kenya Party.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula was named as the Minority Leader in the Senate to be deputised by Siaya Senator James Orengo.
