President William Ruto will not appoint members of the opposition to serve in his administration since he wants a strong opposition to hold his government accountable.
“We want to run an accountable government. So we appreciate their role and wish them well in their role but we will play ours as effectively as we can,” Dr Ruto said.
“We welcome our competitors’ assertions that they will take their oversight roles seriously. We are ready to be accountable.”
Additionally, he stated that the Kenya Kwanza alliance, which also commands majority status in the National Assembly and Senate, will agree on selections for House leadership tomorrow (Saturday).
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“We are going to collectively make a decision on who will be leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, their deputies,” Dr Ruto said.
“I have heard our competitors trying to say they have some numbers. Surely, if you cannot even raise a candidate for the Speaker of Senate, what numbers do you really have? Let’s just be honest with ourselves. There is no need to bring a contest where there is none.”
The head of state also urged members of his coalition to be active on the floor of the House.
“Make use of the stage in Parliament: it can make or unmake your career. Why look for a premium stage then abscond?” he wondered.
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“Let us take the responsibility put on our shoulders by Kenyans seriously,” he added.
The President was speaking on Friday during the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary retreat in Naivasha.
The purpose of the retreat was for Kenya Kwanza lawmakers to reach consensus on the rules for conducting parliamentary business.
The opposition has, however, accused the head of state of deliberately attempting to undermine democracy by courting opposition lawmakers.
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Several opposition lawmakers, including those elected as independent candidates, have sided with Ruto.
The president also poked fun at the opposition’s assertion that they have enough supporters to oversight the government.
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance which is led by Raila Odinga will unveil the names of persons it has nominated to various House leadership positions in Parliament on Monday.
The coalition has maintained that it has the largest number of elected leaders in the National Assembly and thus would go for the majority positions and not those of the minority.
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“We are the largest party in Parliament, we deserve to have the majority leader and whip position,” Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua said.
The coalition is on a two-day retreat at Stoni Athi Resort in Machakos County to deliberate on the sharing of leadership positions in the National Assembly and Senate.
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