14 May 2008
editorial
Nairobi — Not many would argue against the necessity in democracy for the Executive branch of government to be kept in check by an effective Legislature.
Seen in that light, the ongoing political row around the formation of an Official Opposition might seem rather strange.
The problem here is that we are not dealing with the philosophy underpinning the need for a robust legislature, but have reduced the debate to the usual political tug-of-war.
A little background is in order.
Formation of the Grand Coalition Government resulted in a situation where the two leading parties, PNU and ODM, came together following a mediated power-sharing pact.
The end result was that there was no party remaining in Parliament with the requisite numbers to be recognised as the Official Opposition.
It looked very much like Parliament had reverted to a one-party institution, and this prompted a group of backbenchers to band together and push for recognition as the Parliamentary Opposition.
The group of MPs have found themselves facing accusations that their intentions were less than honourable.
There were insinuations that they were out to undermine their sponsoring parties and the Government, and that they were acting out of pique on having missed appointments to the Cabinet.
They have a simple answer to those accusations. Their colleagues joined the coalition government and yet were not deemed to have betrayed their parties. Also, the Grand Coalition Government was welcomed.
That is a compelling argument that ought not to be taken at face value and not clouded by undue suspicion.
Any Executive arm of Government spared scrutiny could easily become a monolithic structure that brooks no challenge.
Whether the laws are changed to allow for the kind of Parliamentary opposition sought, or whether backbenchers simply constitute themselves an unofficial opposition, the principle remains that the Government must be kept in check.
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ABABU WANTS TO THROW KENYA'S PROGRESS BACK TO PRE-ELECTION UNCERTAINTIES. AN OPPOSITION IS NOT A NECESSITY FOR A PARLIAMENT. COLLABORATION IS INFACT A GREATER WAY AND SHOWS MORE CIVILIZATION. ABABU IS PUSHING KENYA BACK TO THE BUSH-AGE. THE FACT THAT THE MAJOR PARTIES COOPORATE IS BETTER FOR THE COUNTRY THAN HAVING COCKS CROWING AT THE BACK-BENCH JUST TO BE HEARD AND TO GET MORE MONEY OR FAME OR MAYBE EVEN GET BRIBES TO DESTROY THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE COALLITION.