Pokot South MP David Pkosing has joined the list of leaders endorsing plans to create the office of the Official Leader of Opposition.
This comes amid pressure, including from President William Ruto, for the amendment of the constitution to come up with the new office.
Pkosing says that while the idea is a good one, there is need to increase the privileges to be enjoyed by the holder of the office, on top of the current proposals.
He wants the Leader of Opposition to be allowed to nominate people to government bodies like the Central Bank of Kenya and institutions like the IEBC.
The lawmaker, a member of the opposition's Azimio La Umoja coalition, wants the holder of the seat to get to 40 percent of state appointments, and get to fill four positions if there are nine.
“That office is crucial. It has to go deeper to dividing, say, constitutional commission board membership to reflect party strength. For instance, if a commission is made of nine commissioners, the majority party should name five and the minority side four. This should extend to all big parastatals,” he told the Daily Nation.
This comes amid reports that Ruto, while meeting Kenya Kwanza MPs on Monday, asked them to support the bill when it's tabled before them.
National Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Owen Baya has confirmed that they indeed are serious about creating the position.
“It is after these recommendations by the committee and at adoption of the report that we will know whether the amendments will require a referendum or not,” the Kilifi North MP told the paper.
The position, if created, might end up with ODM leader Raila Odinga, who is at the moment the defacto opposition leader.
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