Mudavadi and Wetangula parties threaten to quit NASA

The NASA coalition is now facing a major unity test after partner parties complained over the distribution of parliamentary positions and the perceived monopolised decision making process.

The wrangles emerged after the ODM party overturned a coalition decision to leave the chairmanship of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) to Musalia Mudavadi’s Party, ANC.

However, when it came to voting, the MPs voted for Opiyo Wandayi of ODM.

Ford Kenya Secretary General, who is also the Tongaren MP, Eseli Simiyu, complained that ODM, through Minority Leader John Mbadi and Chief Whip Junet Mohamed, was sabotaging the NASA coalition.

“ODM is failing to consult, especially in the National Assembly where if the Minority leader and the Minority whip are going to leave on their own, they are going to break up the coalition.”

“If they feel the rest of us are a nuisance, then they should tell us now, then we know what to do next. There isn't enough consultation, perhaps ODM doesn’t value the partners,” Simiyu stated.

His tough stance was echoed by ANC Secretary General Barack Muluka who stated that ODM’s failure to consult would result in the death of the NASA coalition.

“A coalition is not about one party taking everything and others are supposed to escort them, to clap and to do public relations talks," Muluka stated.

The ANC Secretary General complained not only of the distribution of parliamentary positions, but also of the planned swearing in ceremony.

Muluka stated that coalition partners were not involved in the aborted plan to swear in NASA leader Raila Odinga, adding that the process was coordinated by a “cartel”.

"Kenyans must know that when the declaration was made that Raila would be sworn in on December 12, there had been no consultation and we don’t need to be hypocritical about it,” he stated.