Aden Duale, Junet Slam Kalonzo For Declaring Himself Opposition Leader: "You Have Less Than 20 MPs"

• On Thursday, August 29, Junet Mohamed said he was the legitimate leader of the opposition, given he is the minority leader in the National Assembly
• Junet said it was wrong for Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to declare himself the official opposition leader, yet the office does not exist
• Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kalonzo lacks the numbers in Parliament to make him the leader of the opposition

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Homa Bay—National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed has criticised Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for declaring himself the official opposition leader.

How Junet Mohamed criticised Kalonzo Musyoka

Speaking during Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi's homecoming ceremony on Thursday, August 29, Junet said he was the legitimate opposition leader.

Junet said that since the Office of Official Opposition is not enshrined in the Constitution, it would be fair to term the Leader of the Minority Party in the National Assembly the opposition leader.

“As it stands now, I am the official opposition leader because I am the minority leader and you cannot take away the job God has given me. Those in the opposition should know I am their leader,” Junet said.

The outspoken ODM MP slammed the Wiper leader for laying claim to a position that currently does not exist in the law.

“I have seen our colleagues saying we in ODM are in government and such stuff, and they are now opposition leaders. There is no part in the Constitution that talks about an opposition leader. Let no one allocate themselves a job that is non-existent. Let us first create an office and then someone can occupy it,” he added.

What Aden Duale said about opposition leader

Speaking at the same event, Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale backed sentiments by the Suna East lawmaker.

Duale explained that the 2010 Constitution places the powers of the opposition leader in the office of the minority leader in the National Assembly.

The Environment CS said it was wrong for Kalonzo to declare himself the leader of the opposition, yet he did not have enough elected MPs in Parliament.

"In the Kenyan Constitution Article 108, the spokesperson for the government in Parliament is Kimani Ichung'wah, while the spokesperson and leader of the opposition is Junet Mohamed. If you are elsewhere wandering around and claiming that because Baba (Raila) has gone to the AU, you are now the leader of the opposition, yet your MPs don't even reach 20, no that is not the case," said Duale.

What ODM said about Azimio's leadership

Meanwhile, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party dismissed plans by Azimio la Umoja constituent parties to replace Raila Odinga as the leader of the opposition coalition.

In a press briefing on Monday, August 19, ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga criticised Azimio leaders questioning Raila's commitment to the opposition.

Wanga said it was in bad faith for Azimio leaders to hide behind the recent appointment of ODM officials to the Cabinet to undermine the former prime minister.

According to Wanga, some Azimio leaders were attempting to arm-twist Raila into endorsing them ahead of the 2027 elections.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

DeVon Franklin's Net Worth From Preaching And Producing, And Speaking
Government To Track Down 19 Million Kenyans Who Defaulted On Hustler Fund: "They Disappeared"
Homabay Woman Abandoned In Prison By Mum, Hubby Bounces Back To Start Marketing Job: "I'm Excited"

Collage of Aden Duale (l), Kalonzo Musyoka (c) and Junet Mohamed (r)

Parliament heated exchange🔥 Aden Duale vs Junet Mohamed | Political

Aden Duale Blasts Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka over Their Calls for