Former presidential candidate, George Wajackoyah, welcomed the proposal by a section of Members of Parliament to introduce the office of the official leader of the opposition.
The Roots Party Leader described the proposal as a “good amendment” and declared his support of the move that would change the structure of Kenya’s opposition politics.
However, he demanded that the amendment include offices for other leaders in the opposition besides the official opposition leader, including his party, which emerged third in the August General Election.
“The intention to have the Office of the Official opposition is a welcome move, but it should be split into two to allow Raila to be the chief Opposition leader while I become another opposition leader,” Wajackoyah stated while speaking to Nation Africa on Thursday, December 9.
Further, he reiterated that the amendment to entrench the office in the Constitution should be executed through popular initiative, arguing that it would interfere with the government structure.
“This is a good amendment that must be through a popular initiative because it touches on the structure of the governance,” he added.
The proposal became a subject of debate, with different leaders taking divergent stances regarding the re-introduction of the office, which was rendered redundant after the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
A section of leaders affiliated with the Kenya Kwanza administration revealed that the ruling party would support the creation of the office if introduced in parliament as it aligned with the party’s agenda.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party Chairman Johnson Muthama, confirmed that President William Ruto had on several occasions declared his support towards the idea in a bid to bolster democracy in the country.
However, some leaders under the Azimio la Umoja Coalition expressed their doubts regarding the motive of the introduction.
Lang’ata, legislator and a member of the Orange Democratic Movement- ODM party described the proposal as a ploy to tame opposition chief Raila Odinga.
Instead, the MP advocated for “streets” and rallies as the ideal way to exercise their democracy.
“The creation of the office of the opposition is a move to tame Raila Odinga. I do not support the move because I believe in the streets, they are louder than any official office, the streets advocated for the Constitution we have,” Jalang’o stated on Friday, December 9.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
