President-elect Dr William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza coalition has received a major boost in the battle for control of the National Assembly.
The battle had remained in favour of the Azimio coalition with four Members of Parliament yet to be confirmed.
This is after the IEBC postponed the election in the four constituencies – Kitui Rural, Rongai, Kacheliba and Pokot South.
Before Kenyans in the four constituencies go to the polls on August 23, 2022, to elect their new MPs, the numbers were in favour of the Raila Odinga-led coalition which had 162 MPs compared to Kenya Kwanza’s 159 MPs.
However, the numbers have now shifted in favour of Kenya Kwanza after Dr Ruto announced that 10 Members of Parliament elected on an independent ticket had joined them.
Eight of the 10 were at Karen, Nairobi on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, during the inaugural meeting of elected Kenya Kwanza leaders.
“Out of the 12 independent MPs, 10 have joined the Kenya Kwanza coalition. We have eight here plus two more,” the president-elect said during the meeting.
Dr Ruto was making the announcement, almost at the same time the Azimio Coalition deputy presidential candidate Martha Karua said they had the majority in the National Assembly.
“Our figures show that we command the National Assembly,” Karua told journalists at the KICC after a meeting with all leaders elected on an Azimio ticket.
UDA to get the majority of nominated MPs
The focus will now shift to clinching the four remaining MP positions, as the two coalitions battle for control of the National Assembly.
This is before the 12 nomination positions are filled.
But with the UDA party having a majority of MPs, it will get a larger percentage of the nominated legislators – further boosting the Kenya Kwanza numbers.
Already, the Kenya Kwanza coalition has control of the Senate at 24, compared to Kenya Kwanza’s 22.
One Senator, Okiya Omtata of Busia County was elected on the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA), which is not allied to any of the two coalitions.
