Cracks have emerged in Azimio la Umoja against joint House leadership. Raila Odinga, leader of the coalition, has reportedly been pressured by one of the coalition's affiliate parties to delay the announcement of the candidates proposed to fill the coveted positions.
Following a daylong retreat at Stoni Athi Resort in Machakos, the coalition announced last night that the names will be made public on Monday.
According to Saturday's issue of the Kenyan newspaper Saturday Nation, there is a stalemate over the position of Senate Minority Whip, which Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has insisted should be filled by a member of his party.
Some ODM members have claimed that the party holding the majority of seats in the National Assembly and the Senate should hold the positions of Majority leader and Whip in both houses, with the other partner parties filling the positions of Minority leader and Deputy Whip.
When it comes to the position of Majority Leader in the National Assembly, ODM is also divided.
John Mbadi, who was nominated for the seat, faces competition from Opiyo Wandayi of Ugunja and Junet Mohamed of Suna East.
Wycliffe Oparanya, the deputy party leader of the ODM, tried to broker a deal between ODM members at a separate meeting he chaired earlier yesterday.
According to one ODM lawmaker, the three names will be handed to the party leader to make the final decision on who will take up the National Assembly Majority leader in a meeting held today morning.
According to yesterday's deal, Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe is proposed to take on the role of Majority whip, while Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu (Wiper) will become the deputy Majority leader. A MP of Kenya's Democratic Alliance Party will serve as deputy whip (Dap-K).
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