National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula's wisdom will be tested while solving a standoff between Azimio la Umoja and Kenya Kwanza coalition, who are angling for influential positions in Parliament.
The two factions are scrambling to win the leader of the majority and minority positions alongside the majority and minority whip roles. The two groups are also battling to control key House committees.
Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung'wah is eyeing the leader of the majority position, which Azimio's nominated MP John Mbadi and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed desire.
Both sides claimed to control the majority and hence want to be allocated the positions in order to influence House businesses. According to Parliament Standing Orders, the political side with a majority of leaders gets the chance to pick the leader of the majority.
Currently, both sides are lobbying their members claiming to have numbers with Azimio arguing that its pre-election agreements make it the majority side, despite several parties decamping to Kenya Kwanza.
Defending their argument, Azimio leaders claimed that the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu had not revoked the agreement allowing the parties such as United Democratic Movement (UDM) led by former Garissa Governor Ali Roba to join Kenya Kwanza.
However, Wetangula will have to decide which side grabs the key committee, House Business Committee, Committee on Selection and Committee on Appointment
"That is the decision that will be decided by the speaker if the parties fail to agree," outgoing Speaker Justin Muturi advised.
Already, the Kenya Kwanza side has scheduled a retreat once President-elect William Ruto is sworn in on Tuesday, September 13, to deliberate on the formula to be used in allocating key positions in Parliament.
The leaders from both sides are also scrambling for positions in the Parliamentary Service Commission and roles in over 40 House committees.
Nominees for the Parliamentary Service Commission in Kenya Kwanza include Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, Nyandarua woman representative Faith Gitau, North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko, and Nyeri woman rep Rahab Mukami.
Those who have shown interest from Azimio's side include Sirisia MP John Waluke and Mavoko MP Patrick Makau.
