Kenyans Rally Behind New Opposition Leader Role, Reject Mudavadi’s Office
The majority of Kenyans support the creation of the position of Official Leader of the Opposition and are vehemently opposed to the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary.
According to a poll released by TIFA on Thursday, this is the case.
The survey on the State of Kenyan Politics revealed that 45 percent of Kenyans strongly support the creation of the position of Official Leader of the Opposition, while 21 percent strongly oppose this move.
Another 17% of respondents expressed some support for the creation of the position. While 13% are undecided, only 5% oppose the establishment of an office for the opposition leader.
On the other hand, a majority of Kenyans (31%) strongly oppose Musalia Mudavadi’s current position as Prime Cabinet Secretary.
27% of Kenyans ardently support Mudavadi’s office, while 15% support it in some way, 20% are undecided, and 7% oppose it in some way.
In the ongoing bipartisan discussions, the creation of the position of Official Leader of the Opposition and the existence of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary are among the five issues on the table.
Mudavadi’s office was established by Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, and he is tasked with, among other responsibilities, assisting the President and his deputy in coordination and supervision of ministries and state departments, and overseeing the implementation of National Government policies, programs, and projects.
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President William Ruto has stated in the past that he supports the establishment of the position of Official Leader of the Opposition in KenyaLAND. Ruto stated that he is even willing to fund it if it would enable them to better control the government.
“If they want us to create the office of the leader of the opposition, I am ready to fund the government of Kenya. He (Raila Odinga) will be releasing statements from morning till evening on where the government is lacking. I have no problem,” he said while speaking in Bungoma on August 27, 2023.
In addition to outstanding Constitutional issues, electoral justice, and related issues, enshrining funds in the Constitution, and fidelity to Political Parties/Coalitions and the law on multiparty democracy are on the agenda for discussion in the bipartisan talks.
The TIFA survey revealed that the majority of Kenyans (48%) strongly support bipartisan discussions, while 19% strongly oppose them, 16% somewhat support them, 13% are undecided, and 4% somewhat oppose them.
48% of Kenyans believe Raila Odinga’s embrace of the position of opposition leader will weaken the opposition, while 36% believe it will strengthen them. An additional 16% believe that it will make no difference.
Kenyans Rally Behind New Opposition Leader Role, Reject Mudavadi’s Office
