Editor's Review

Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has pointed out the lack of opposition in Kenya as a contributor to the suffering experienced in the country.

Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has attributed some of the failures of the government to a lack of opposition in the country.

While debating the Constitution Amendment Bill 2020 also known as the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) on May 6, 2021, Malala told the Senate that the report has the ability to give the country an opposition.

Jokingly, the Senator referenced his primary school education, Civics, noting that he was taught of the importance of opposition to the government. He stated that, currently, no one keeps the government on toes and in check.

Malala called for the approval of the BBI bill which proposes an official position for the leader of opposition in parliament.

The document stipulates that the loser of an election, whose party has a higher representation in parliament shall be declared the official leader of the opposition.

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"It is very important for this country to have an opposition. Mr. Speaker, most of the problems we are suffering from are because we do not have an opposition.

"A case in example is this house, the leader of majority and the leader of minority walk together as conjoined twins Mr. Speaker. Nobody is keeping the other in check," Malala stated.

For close to two decades, ODM Leader Raila Odinga has been considered the leader of the opposition, having come second in three elections, and ODM dominating other parties in terms of representation in parliament.

Malala's sentiments can be echoed by the handshake which brought together the Jubilee government and the ODM party. This has seen, members of the two parties share common opinions on the floor of the house since March 9, 2018.