Twisted scheme behind Ruto's push for office of opposition leader

There has been a renewed push - from the side of the government - for the re-introduction of the position of the official opposition leader in Parliament.

It is reported that during one of the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meetings held at State House, Nairobi, President William Ruto specifically urged his MPs to support a bill that will seek to introduce the position.

According to President Ruto, the creation of the position will strengthen the opposition even more, so that they will be effective in keeping his government in check.

"We are not afraid of being kept in check but it should be done in a patriotic manner. We encourage our friends in the opposition. We have no quarrel with them doing whatever it is that they are doing as an opposition to keep their oversight role. All we are asking them is that we must do this in an environment of peace and being patriots so that we can do what is good for the people of Kenya," Ruto said during an interdenominational church service at Wanjohi Primary School grounds in Nyandarua county, in December 11 2022.

Where did the idea come from?

Speaking with KTN News on Tuesday, February 28, ODM Party leader Raila Odinga claimed that Ruto first sought his help - through senior diplomats - to create the position.

Raila, who is also the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader, said that at the time, the top diplomats had approached Ruto and asked him what his next move will be in the event he was defeated in August 9 Presidential Election.

Apparently, Raila says that Ruto did not foresee his election win and told the diplomats that he wanted to be a strong opposition leader.

"Sometimes in July 2022, top diplomats approached William Ruto and asked him what he will do in the event he lost elections. He told them that he wants to be a very strong opposition leader. He even told them to help him in pressurising me to create the position of official opposition leader in parliament," Raila said.

He added: "So after the elections, they [the diplomats] approached him [Ruto] and told him to create the position since he was now the president. That is the origin of this process. I have gotten this from several senior diplomats."

Raila has however faulted the manner in which the President Ruto-led government want to introduce a bill over the same. "They faulted the BBI saying that it was initiated by President Uhuru Kenyatta. So now what he has done is to write to the Speaker asking the committee to generate a bill. The speaker should just sit there and wait for bills to come to him. If the government wants a bill to be brought, there are procedures. What is going on right now is very illegal."