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President-elect William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga's battle to control the National Assembly is far from over following the conclusion of parliamentary elections on Monday.
The just-ended polls in Kacheliba, Pokot South and Kitui Rural constituencies have bolstered Azimio numbers, with Kenya Kwanza bagging the Rongai parliamentary seat.
Azimio is now legally the majority side in the National Assembly.
But matters in the august House have been complicated due to the fact that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance commands a political majority after 15 MPs from six political parties- though legally under Azimio- have shifted allegiance to Ruto's camp.
According to Article 108 of the Constitution, Parliament shall be made up of two sides: the majority and minority. The majority side shall be led by a member from the largest party or coalition of parties, while the minority leader will be from the second largest party or coalition of parties.
Legally, Raila commands most numbers in the National Assembly, through Azimio affiliate parties ODM, Jubilee, Wiper, Kanu, DAP-K, United Democratic Movement (UDM) and KUP, among others, for a total of 167 members.
Ruto's Kenya Kwanza- with its affiliate parties of United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Amani National Congress (ANC), Ford Kenya, The Service Party (TSP), Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM), Grand Dream Development Party (GDDP) and Democratic Party- has 158 members.
But the president-elect's numbers were bolstered after Azimio affiliate parties and some independent MPs crossed over to Kenya Kwanza.
They include seven members from UDM, three from Pamoja African Alliance (PAA), two from Maendeleo Chap Chap Party (MCCP), one from Movement for Democracy and Growth, one MP from the United Party of Independent Alliance, and another from National Agenda Party of Kenya.
The two coalitions will share equally the 12 nomination slots thus boosting their numbers to 173 for Azimio and 164 for Kenya Kwanza.
According to the Azimio agreement bringing together 26 parties, a party that intends to exit the coalition is required to give 90-days notice to the chairman of the coalition who is outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In May, barely a month after Azimio inked an agreement with 26 parties, MCCP headed by former Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, and former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi's PAA bolted to Kenya Kwanza.
Mutua party's exit, however, was stopped by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal which ruled that the aggrieved parties are bound by the agreement they signed with Azimio.
Their exit, according to the agreement, cannot be made six months before the elections or within three months after the elections.
This in essence makes Azimio the majority side in the National Assembly until November 9 when renegade parties will officially exit.
Based on the current arithmetic, Azimio will take over the coveted positions of Majority Leader and Majority Whip in the National Assembly.
Though Ruto has won over 10 out of the 12 independent MPs-elect, their numbers will not be captured when determining the majority and minority positions. They are only meant to help in electing the Speaker, deputy Speaker and passing government business.
