Last week, the High Court made a ruling recognizing the Azimio coalition as the majority party in the National Assembly.
This followed a two-year battle in the corridors of justice.
Before the decision, Azimio served as the Minority Party in the house while the Kenya Kwanza Alliance assumed the majority role. This followed a ruling by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula immediately after he took office in 2022.
The concept of Majority and Minority parties is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
This was a departure from the past when the leader of the Opposition and the President, who was the head of government performed, their roles in Parliament.
At the time, a President was at the same time an elected Member of Parliament representing a constituency.
Under the new dispensation, candidates eyeing the presidency do not contest for an MP seat.
Just like in the past, the party or coalition that has the highest number of elected MPs is the majority side, while the party or coalition that has the second highest number automatically becomes the minority party.
It further states that the order of hierarchy in the National Assembly shall be observed in a manner that the Speaker of the National Assembly is the topmost official, followed by the Deputy Speaker and then the leader of the majority party and the leader of the minority party.
The leader of the Majority and his or her Minority counterpart are elected by their respective parties.
“The Speaker shall facilitate the Leader of the Majority Party and the Leader of the Minority Party in the discharge of the business of the House on behalf of their respective parties or coalition of parties in the National Assembly,” Standing Order no. 19 (5) reads.
Deputy majority and minority leaders are also elected at the same time by members of their respective outfits.
Their names are submitted to the Speaker in writing by the Majority and Minority Chief Party Whips.
