What You Need to Know
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has expressed skepticism regarding the authenticity of a letter from the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition. The letter, proposing Caroli Omondi as Leader of the Coalition Party Parliamentary Group, raised concerns due to grammatical errors and lack of a forwarding address. Wetang’ula emphasized that the position mentioned does not exist in law, casting
Africa-Press – Kenya. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has questioned the authenticity of a letter reportedly sent to his office from Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, in which Suba South MP Caroli Omondi was proposed for appointment as Leader of the Coalition Party Parliamentary Group.
Wetang’ula said that, on its face, the letter appears to be signed by Kalonzo Musyoka in his capacity as leader of the party, but he raised concerns over its legitimacy.
He noted that the document did not bear what he described as an original signature.
“Secondly, it contains several grammatical and typographical errors, including the duplication of the author’s name; the document is signed as H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka,” Wetang’ula noted.
He further stated that the letter lacked a forwarding address for correspondence or clarification.
“The letter lacks any forwarding address to which correspondence, including requests for clarification or responses, could be directed,” Wetang’ula noted.
The Speaker added that, in his view, there were serious doubts about the origin of the document.
“In this regard, as your Speaker, I have serious doubts that the letter originated from an office of that stature,” he said
Wetang’ula also said the office in question is “established in law and fully funded and capacitated under the auspices of the Retirement Benefits Deputy President.”
He said the document, which had circulated in the public domain, could have contributed to misinformation as it did not provide a clear address for clarification or response.
Wetang’ula further clarified that the position of Leader of the Coalition Party Parliamentary Group does not exist in the Constitution, statutory law, or the Standing Orders of the National Assembly.
“This means that the letter has purportedly appointed the Member for Suba South, a respected lawyer, to a position that is not recognised in law.”
In a separate but related communication, Wetang’ula also cast doubt on another letter attributed to Kalonzo Musyoka, which referred to changes in Azimio Coalition leadership and parliamentary positions.
“A causal view of the document casts serious doubt about its authenticity. First, it doesn’t bar the signature of its author and is littered with several grammatical and topographical errors, including the duplication of one of the names of its purported author, specifically H.E Kalonzo Kalonzo Musyoka. We do not know anybody called Kalonzo Kalonzo Musyoka in this country. We know Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka,” the Speaker noted.
“Secondly, and most importantly, the letter lacks any forwarding address to which any exchange of correspondence, including seeking clarification or making a response, can be addressed. In this regard, as your speaker, I highly doubt that this letter originated from the office of a person of the stature of the retired Vice President, which is an office established by law.”
Following the concerns, Wetang’ula said it would not be possible to act on the contents of the communication, noting that it lacked a valid address for clarification or response.
“There being no address to which a clarification can be sought or reply, and noting that information of purported changes has been circulated in the public domain, I wish to clarify that the position of Leader of the coalition parliamentary Party does not exist in our constitution, statute law or Standing Orders. This, therefore, means that the MP for Suba South has been appointed to a non-existent office, and I am not able to process the contents of the letter,” the Speaker told MPs on Tuesday afternoon.
Three weeks ago, Azimio revoked the appointment of Junet Mohamed as Minority Leader in the National Assembly and appointed Caroli Omondi as his replacement.
The decision was announced by Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka following a joint meeting of the coalition’s governing bodies, including the Coalition Council and the National Coalition Executive Council.
“The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party today held a Joint Meeting of the Coalition Council and the National Coalition Executive Council and resolved that the following persons have, by virtue of their appointment to public office and/or having joined competing political coalitions, ceased to be members of the Azimio Coalition Council and the Azimio National Coalition Executive Council,” Musyoka stated.
Also removed from the Azimio Coalition Council were Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, nominated MP Sabina Chege, Abdi Noor Omar Farah, and Junet Mohamed.
The coalition also announced the removal of several leaders from the National Coalition Executive Council, including Cooperatives and SMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, East Africa Community Principal Secretary Caroline Karugu, Eldas MP Adan Keynan, Pokot South MP David Pkosing, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, Garissa Senator Abdul Haji, Isabella Wangechi Githinji and Solomon Kuria.
The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition was formed as a political alliance aimed at uniting various parties under a common agenda. It has been involved in significant political maneuvers, including leadership changes and appointments within the National Assembly. The coalition’s dynamics often reflect the broader political landscape in Kenya, where alliances can shift rapidly based on strategic interests and electoral considerations. Recent events have highlighted the challenges of maintaining unity and legitimacy within such coalitions, especially when faced with internal disputes and public scrutiny.
