• The legislator noted that she looked around and that the only way her voice could be heard was to team up with like-minded individuals from within parliament.
• Wamuchomba said that this way, they can have a bigger voice of reason in parliament.
Image: GATHONI WAMUCHOMBA/X
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba says that she decided to form an alternative opposition alliance with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino because "all voices of reason are fading away".
Speaking on Wednesday, Wamuchomba said such voices, including that of civil society groups, are fading away.
She alleged that the opposition is currently silenced and that the media, which used to be one of the tools to keep the state in check also seems intimidated.
"The opposition in Kenya seems to have been muzzled and the voices of reason are fading away. The voices of reason from civil society are fading away. The media seems to be intimidated. I have been in the media, he has been in the media for many years and we can confidently tell you that the vigour and the muscle the media had to check over government is no longer there," Wamuchomba said.
The legislator noted that she looked around and that the only way her voice could be heard was to team up with like-minded individuals from within parliament.
Wamuchomba said that this way, they can have a bigger voice of reason in parliament.
"I sat and wondered who am I in that parliament if my little voice of rejection of some of the things that I feel are not put right by the government is not audible. I can only look for people who are thinking like me and coalesce around me and create a bigger voice."
On Tuesday, Wamuchomba and her Embakasi East counterpart Babu Owino unveiled a new opposition alliance to keep the government in check alongside MPs Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Caleb Amisi (Saboti), and Busia Women Representative Catherine Omanyo as leaders of the team in their respective regions.
Others were Amos Mwago (Starehe) and Charles Nguna (Mwingi West).
Wamuchomba called the new outfit “Team Kusikiza Ground.”
She said the team is made up of MPs who have teamed up to stress the need for the government to address pressing issues affecting Kenyans irrespective of their political parties.
"We discussed issues on fake fertilisers and seeds, alcoholism, the Haiti mission, high taxation and the Doctors' strike," she posted on her X account after the address.
Despite being a member of the ruling UDA party, Wamuchomba has remained a big critic of their policies.
Babu on his part told the press that the unveiling of the forum follows the "laxity" seen in the main opposition coalition in fighting for the rights of Kenyans.
"This team will be on the ground to fight for the voice of the voiceless, to fight for the inherent and inalienable right of every Kenyan wherever they are in the eight regions," Babu said.