Creating Opposition Leader’s Office Is To Make Raila Productive, Legitimate – Gladys Shollei
Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Shollei stated that the office of the opposition leader is being created to make Raila Odinga more productive.
According to Shollei, the office will curb the recurrence of anti-government demonstrations and formally legitimize Odinga’s role as a check on the government.
“It’s being created because we’ve discovered that every time Raila loses an election, he takes to the streets and causes chaos,” she told KTN on Monday.
“Therefore, we say, let’s make him productive and legitimate as the opposition leader, and give him something to do that is more beneficial to Kenyans than taking to the streets.”
She further opined that there is no need to amend the constitution to create the position, as suggested by some leaders, but rather to amend the Political Parties Act and the Elections Act to allow the second-place finisher in the presidential election to be nominated for the position.
This comes one day after President William Ruto announced that he is willing to create and fund the position if the opposition requests it.
Ruto stated during a Sunday Thanksgiving service in Bungoma County that the opposition must operate within the parameters of the constitution and that he will assist them in performing their duties.
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“If they want us to establish the office of the opposition leader, I am willing to fund it with the Kenyan government.” He (Raila Odinga) will release statements throughout the day regarding the government’s deficiencies. “I have no issues,” he stated.
In their efforts to reconcile their political differences, the coalitions of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja are also discussing the creation of the position.
Kenya Kwanza desires that the discussions focus on the establishment of the opposition leader’s official office, an issue that Azimio has not endorsed.
Instead, Azimio has maintained that their focus is on the high cost of living, the review of the 2022 General Election, the bipartisan reorganization of Kenya’s electoral commission (IEBC), respect for political parties, and inclusiveness in government affairs.
Creating Opposition Leader’s Office Is To Make Raila Productive, Legitimate – Gladys Shollei
