Why Wetang’ula, Ngilu may miss out on key House posts

Water minister Charity Ngilu of the Jubilee Coalition might not get the seat unless she is among the 16 women who will be nominated by political parties to sit in the Senate, or if she gets a nomination as the woman to represent the youth in the lower House. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU ashiundu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, March 16  2013 at  00:30

 
Two Cabinet ministers who had been promised the seat of Leader of Majority in the Senate have lost out on the lucrative post, for now.

Water minister Charity Ngilu of the Jubilee Coalition might not get the seat unless she is among the 16 women who will be nominated by political parties to sit in the Senate, or if she gets a nomination as the woman to represent the youth in the lower House.

Ms Ngilu has been left to hope for a party nomination into the august House after she lost to Mr David Musila in her bid for Kitui senate seat.

Mr Moses Wetang’ula of the Coalition for Reforms and Development failed because his party, Ford Kenya, did not raise the numbers required to get the position.

Although he got elected as the Bungoma senator, Mr Wetang’ula’s party just managed four seats from the 47 counties.

Banking on numbers

As a member of the Cord coalition, Mr Wetang’ula is banking on the coalition’s numbers of 20 senators.

The best he can be is Leader of Minority Party in the Senate.

Mr Wetang’ula could not be reached for comment. Calls to his mobile phone returned the “busy” signal.

If Ms Ngilu is nominated, she will have to convince TNA (11 senators), APK (two senators), UDF (two senators), Kanu (two senators) and URP (nine senators) that they should pick her for the post.

Though the position of Leader of Majority Party and Leader of Minority Party is not set out in the Constitution, Parliament has created it in the Standing Orders for the Senate as per the practice in other democracies.

Ms Ngilu’s Narc has only one senator. Efforts to reach her for comment were also unsuccessful.

UDF, APK and Kanu were not part of the Jubilee coalition, but as soon as the election results were declared, they have all expressed intent to work with President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta.

There are 20 slots for nominated senators, but 16 of these are reserved for women.

They will all be chosen according to political parties’ strength in the House. Two of the nominees will be picked — one man and a woman — to represent the youth while another two slots — also a man and woman — have been earmarked for people with disabilities.

The Constitution says that “the Senate represents the counties, and serves to protect the interests of the counties and their governments”.

“The Senate participates in the law-making function of Parliament by considering, debating and approving Bills concerning counties…The Senate determines the allocation of national revenue among counties and exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to the county governments,” reads the Constitution.

It adds: “The Senate participates in the oversight of State officers by considering and determining any resolution to remove the President or Deputy President from office.”