Azimio now faults recognition of Jubilee as a party

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya has termed the Speaker's decision to recognise Jubilee as a parliamentary party under the present circumstances, a contravention of the Constitution.

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi who spoke on behalf of Azimio leader Raila Odinga at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, Thursday termed the move an affront to the rule of law and multiparty democracy and asked National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula to review the decision.

He argued that Azimio was registered as a coalition party with known constituent parties including Jubilee and from the records at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, Jubilee remains a member of Azimio.

"An elaborate procedure for a constituent political party to exit the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party is clearly provided for under Article 22 of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Deed of Agreement, duly deposited with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties," he said.

He said Article 108 of the Constitution, read together with Standing Order 20A, does not contemplate a situation where a political party can belong to a coalition and at the same time enjoy the status of a stand-alone parliamentary party in the National Assembly.

Wetang'ula had on Tuesday recognised Jubilee as a parliamentary party and Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje as the Minorty Deputy Whip replacing Nominated MP Sabina Chege who is now recognised as Jubilee Party Whip by virtue of the support she enjoys from 21 out of 28 party MPs.