As the results for Kenya’s presidential election continued to trickle in, the focus shifted to the battle for Parliament, the other arm of government where a president commanding the majority enjoys the legroom to implement his policies and programmes, but would be severely hamstrung if in a minority.
For Deputy President William Ruto of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja coalition rival Raila Odinga — who were in a neck-and-neck race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta — control of Parliament for whoever wins State House would be crucial.
For either of them, winning the presidency but not controlling Parliament, which is made up of the National Assembly and the Senate, would come at the risk of having legislative and budgetary proposals constantly thrown out or delayed, and in the worst-case scenario, face threats of impeachment.
That is why since the return of the multi-party system, every Head of State, from Daniel arap Moi to Mwai Kibaki and outgoing Uhuru Kenyatta, has made it the first order of business to ensure a tight grip by influencing the composition of the House leadership starting with the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the majority leaders, whips and key committee chairs.
When President Kenyatta, in his final term, felt threatened by the forces loyal to his estranged deputy, Ruto, he moved fast to purge the Jubilee parliamentary leadership.
As the results for Kenya’s presidential election continued to trickle in, the focus shifted to the battle for Parliament, the other arm of government where a president commanding the majority enjoys the legroom to implement his policies and programmes, but would be severely hamstrung if in a minority.
For Deputy President William Ruto of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja coalition rival Raila Odinga — who were in a neck-and-neck race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta — control of Parliament for whoever wins State House would be crucial.
For either of them, winning the presidency but not controlling Parliament, which is made up of the National Assembly and the Senate, would come at the risk of having legislative and budgetary proposals constantly thrown out or delayed, and in the worst-case scenario, face threats of impeachment.
That is why since the return of the multi-party system, every Head of State, from Daniel arap Moi to Mwai Kibaki and outgoing Uhuru Kenyatta, has made it the first order of business to ensure a tight grip by influencing the composition of the House leadership starting with the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the majority leaders, whips and key committee chairs.
When President Kenyatta, in his final term, felt threatened by the forces loyal to his estranged deputy, Ruto, he moved fast to purge the Jubilee parliamentary leadership.
