Opposition groping in darkness over ODM's dalliance with Ruto

As Parliament sits today, the place of the opposition in the august House appears uncertain.

The opposition seems to be groping in darkness following the incorporation into the government of the National Assembly Minority Leader.

That new alliance between the ruling United Democratic Union and the Orange Democratic Movement will render the opposition ineffective on the floor of Parliament. The once vocal opposition in the country now seems to be on its deathbed.

Already several ODM MPs have lined up to take over the Minority Leader position held by Opiyo Wandayi who was nominated as Energy Cabinet Secretary.

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Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua through party acting secretary general Asha Bashir in a letter addressed to Azimio secretary general Junet said that their stay in the coalition was no longer tenable.

“Kindly take note that our stay in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition is not tenable due to the prevailing political developments,” reads the letter in part.

“As Narc Kenya by way of this letter, we are giving notice to exit the Coalition as stipulated in the exit clause (s) in the Coalition Agreement. This notice is effective from the date of this letter.”

Karua posted on X: “Our stay in Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance is no longer tenable.”

The Party of National Unity (PNU) has also announced its intention to exit the Azimio coalition. Party leader Peter Munya yesterday disclosed that the National Executive Council (NEC) will convene on Thursday to decide about its future in the coalition.

“We are meeting on Thursday to decide our relations with Azimio,” Munya said.

He said that the Raila-led ODM could not be in government and at the same time remain in the opposition hence the need to disassociate as the Constitution itself advocates for an opposition.

“They (ODM) have said they want to be in the government and for some of us who want to be in the opposition, we must bolt out so that we can continue fighting for the people of Kenya,” he said.

"The way our Constitution is structured is such that there has to be two sides, there are people in government and people supposed to be in the opposition, you cannot be in both places,” he added.

Munya challenged Raila and other coalition partners to declare whether they are still in the opposition or had joined the government side, to end the confusion.

“As PNU, we believe we can play a better role when we are in the opposition and we are telling our brothers who are with us in Azimio to also make that choice. If they decide to join the government, let them join fully so that it is clear who is playing where...right now there is confusion," he said.

In a telephone interview with The Standard, Herman Manyora, a political analyst, said that the opposition was dead without “Raila troops” being in it.

He claimed that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who had now been left, cannot lead the opposition.

“There is no opposition without Raila troops being in it and it's so clear that as it stands, we don’t have an opposition in the country. Kalonzo who has now been left cannot lead the opposition alone and so it’s clear we no longer have an opposition,” said Manyora.

Meanwhile, Gen Z activists, who claim to have assumed the role of the opposition, face an uncertain future. Their recent attempt to formalise their political movement was thwarted when the Registrar of Political Parties rejected their list of party names.

The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) declined the application of 10 names of Gen Z political parties citing lack of inclusivity.

In a statement, RPP Ann Nderitu said that the application is in violation of Article 91 (1) (a) (e) of the Constitution hence cannot be approved.

Manyora said that it will be unlikely for the young generation to take over the stewardship of the opposition and the only time they could show their prowess is to come out in large numbers in the coming election and elect their preferred leader.

“It is very uncertain that the Gen Zs will take over the stewardship role of the opposition in the country. I would only urge them to come out in large numbers and choose their leader come 2027,” he said.

As Parliament resumes sittings today all eyes are on the opposition and how they will run their affairs on the floor of the House.

The external fragmentation of the Azimio coalition only exacerbates the issue, leaving the opposition in disarray at a time when strong, unified leadership is essential.