Tension in Nasa over ODM's new plan

A major showdown is looming in the National Super Alliance (NASA) after the Raila Odinga led ODM party held a secret meeting to share key minority leader slots in the bicameral house.

In what seems to be a done deal, key positions might be grabbed by Mr Odinga’s key allies, leaving Mudavadi’s ANC, Musyoka’s Wiper, Wetangula’s Ford Kenya and Rutto’s CCM to scramble for the remaining seats, which P Live Kenya has leant that such seats are not influential in the house.

According to a secret meeting held on Wednesday, in the National Assembly – where Jubilee won 140 seats and NASA collectively had 169 - ODM party wants the minority leader position, a move that will displace Wiper party’s Francis Nyenze. Mr Nyenze has also vowed to fight to retain his seat.

In a rejoinder, however, Mudavadi’s team has proposed Lugari MP Ayub Savula as the right candidate to succeed Nyenze as minority leader of the National Assembly.

A source who sought anonymity within Raila Odinga circles and who attended the meeting chaired by Suba Constituency MP-elect John Mbadi, divulged that the two key minority positions will be allocated to vocal and articulate loyalists.

The ODM secret meeting further concluded that Mr Mbadi is highly likely to be considered for minority leader. It is also highly probable that the vocal Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi might take the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) helm from his Rarieda Constituency counterpart Nicholas Gumbo.

Mr Odinga’s party is also planning to retain of the outspoken Homa Bay Women Representative Gladys Wanga as a commissioner of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). Mrs Wanga has served in this position since 2013.

Suba South Constituency lawmaker Millie Odhiambo is lined up to chair the lobby group, Pan African Parliament.

The leaked ODM line-up is likely to cause resentment within the party itself as the list appears to alienate some regions — as the majority of picks come from Homa Bay County.

On the other hand, Musalia Mudavadi led Amani National Coalition (ANC) would be handed the chair of the influential Public Investment Committee in the National Assembly. It is not clear who might be proposed fir this key position.

In the parliamentary Standing Orders, the opposition is only allowed chair PIC and PAC — the two powerful public watchdog panels that oversight the Executive.

Earlier, Mr Nyenze had alluded to the fact that sharing leadership positions in NASA “should reflect the sacrifices made by the party leader Kalonzo Musyoka who relinquished the fight to be flagbearer.”