Kenya Kwanza alliance, affiliated with President William Ruto, has suffered a setback in its bid to control both Parliament and Senate after the Registrar of Political Parties clarified that decamped parties were still members of the Azimio La Umoja coalition.
In the letter forwarded to speakers of both houses, the Registrar of Political Parties - Anne Nderitu - stated that Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) and Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) were not recognised members of the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
Maendeleo Chap Chap is led by former Machakos governor, Alfred Mutua, while Senate speaker, Amason Kingi leads Pamoja African Alliance.
The two leaders led their troops out of Azimio before the August 9 General Election, claiming that their interests would not be catered for.
Nderitu added that the two parties, however, filed petitions to break ties with Azimio.
After the elections, Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) Party, led by Ugenya MP David Ochieng and United Democratic Movement (UDM) led by Ali Roba, also ditched Azimio and filed petitions seeking to officially join Kenya Kwanza.
But in Nderitu's explanation to lawmakers, the petitions were yet to be ruled on. With her clarification, 26 political parties that formed Azimio were still intact in the coalition, with Kenya Kwanza having 15 parties only.
The dissenting parties were also still bonded in Azimio as the agreement deposited with the Registrar of Political Parties stipulates that no party can withdraw from the coalition six months before the August 2022 General Election or within three months after the date of the said polls.
However, some legislators drawn from Kenya kwanza questioned the clause in the agreement. Garissa Town MP, Aden Duale, argued that Kenya Kwanza commands the majority in both houses.
He further claimed that Azimio was registered as a political party but instead only decided to field a presidential candidate yet it was eligible to field candidates in all elective positions. In Duale's school of thought, Azimio does not have elected members of parliament.
His sentiments were corroborated by Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwah, who is eyeing the Leader of Majority post in the National Assembly.
Ichungwah is set to battle it out with Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, who was fronted by Azimio.
But the final decision lies with the Speakers of both houses. National Assembly speaker, Moses Wetangula, while responding to the standoff and confusion, maintained that he will follow the rule of law while issuing a ruling.
"As speaker, I wait for them to bring me whatever they have on the floor, then I’ll deal with it. I’m not part of either side, as it is I am the Speaker, the impartial arbiter, and will be guided by the Constitution and Standing Orders of the House," Wetangula stated.
