The tag of ‘weak opposition’ still haunts CORD, one year later

CORD co-Principal Raila Odinga. (Photo:File/Standard)

By James Mbaka

Kenya: A year after the Jubilee administration rose to power, the official opposition CORD is yet to assert itself as the alternative government.

After the coalition’s leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka were locked out of Parliament after their unsuccessful presidential run, there were concerns the opposition would be weakened by their absence.

But it was never going to be an easy job to check the ruling coalition considering CORD forms the minority in both the National Assembly and the Senate.

Subsequent internal wrangles such as the futile attempt to strip CORD whip Gideon Mung’aro of his position ostensibly because he had failed in his duties only served to distract the coalition. Some members say the perceived lackluster performance is partly due to the current set-up in Parliament.

Empty rhetoric

Ford Kenya Secretary General Eseli Simiyu accused National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and the media of frustrating the coalition’s performance. Dr Eseli, who is also a member of the Cord management committee, accused Muturi of bias and disrespecting CORD.

“Muturi has turned the seat of the speaker into a position to assert dictatorship and muzzle the opposition. He must realise that Parliament is an independent body,” the legislator told The Standard.

But Nyandarua Women Representative Wanjiku Muhia urged CORD to stick to its mandate and hold the Government accountable.

“The opposition has completely failed in keeping the Government in check. They should put their house in order and draw an agenda of what they want. Empty rhetoric will not help,” she said.

National Assembly deputy minority leader Jakoyo Midiwo accused Jubilee of undermining CORD’s legislative agenda in Parliament both at the committee hearings and on the floor of the House.

Graft claims seem to have compromised the role of the opposition in both the National Assembly and Senate raising questions on the coalition’s commitment to offer alternative solutions to the myriad problems facing Kenyans.

Although the allegations have been levelled across the political divide, the ultimate effect has been the incapacitation of the official opposition to assert its oversight role over Government and the threat to act as conduits of oppression.

Political storms within CORD members – Wiper, Ford Kenya and ODM – especially internal alignments and realignments in preparation for 2017 general election has negatively affected the coalition’s effectiveness.

CORD’s deputy leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who is also the head of the Wiper Democratic Movement, has come under pressure to run for presidency in 2017, threatening the coalition’s unity.

Competing political interests coupled with lack of a common stand on issues of public interest and conflicting divergent opinion among members have turned to be CORD’s biggest hurdle in remaining united ahead of 2017.

Sabbatical leave

Kalonzo has indicated that CORD strongholds such as Nyanza and western are willing to support his candidature.

He said his sojourn in the opposition is a sabbatical leave from where he could keenly observe Jubilee’s leadership.

“I do not know what reason Kenyans will have not to elect me as their president come 2017,” he said.

Sixteen CORD MPs have also endorsed Kalonzo for the Presidency in 2017, a move likely to create a rift in the opposition.

The MPs who spoke during the homecoming party of Kilome MP Regina Ndambuki said the coalition is counting on the former vice president to take CORD to State House.

The MPs included Ford Kenya’s Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Kwanza) ODM’s Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), and Stephen Mule (Matungulu) of Wiper.

Simiyu said CORD was not surprised that the National Assembly had been turned into a Jubilee abattoir to butcher democracy.

“Generally Cord has done well despite the setbacks and bottlenecks being advanced by Jubilee which is yet to accept change,” he said.

South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya said CORD has managed to fight off Jubilee’s numerical strength to push for the public good.

“We cannot as CORD be blamed for failure in one way or another. We managed to bring before the House the VAT (amendment) Bill and more are lined up. But the truth is some of the Bills take time,” said Nyamweya.

He partly blamed CORD’s woes on the extension of dictatorial tendencies by some parliamentary committee heads serving the interest of the Executive.

Pre-briefed agenda

“The law is clear on what the chairpersons are expected to do, but some end up turning committees into lecture lessons to pursue their well pre-briefed agenda,” he said.

But Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni feels Jubilee wants to trample democracy but is quick to add that CORD has public goodwill to protect public interest.

“CORD would have done better if it had a strong secretariat that would plan and lay the agenda of the coalition. We must start working as a team and not as parties within CORD. That is when we can achieve our objectives,” said Okong’o.

Although the coalition has persistently criticised Jubilee, accusing it of incompetence and dishonesty in addressing runway institutional corruption and insecurity, CORD has failed to offer solutions.

While reacting to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s the State of the Nation address, acting ODM party leader Anyang’ Nyong’o termed the speech as unrealistic saying Kenyans are fed up with the Government.

“We are losing patience with the politics of tribalism, nepotism, favoritism, cronyism and rule by fiat. We are tired of incompetence and dishonesty in Government,” Prof Nyong’o said in a statement.