Ekuru Aukot claims opposition failed to perform their role

Aug 31, 2023 - 10:54

Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot. Photo/Facebook.

By Robert Mutasi

Thirdway Alliance Kenya party leader, Dr. Ekuru Aukot, has criticized opposition leaders for failing to perform their duties diligently.

He stated that the Members of Parliament who are allied with the opposition have neglected their roles in Parliament.

In an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, the lawyer asserted that the opposition leaders are not overseeing the government as prescribed in the Constitution.

"When you talk about the leader of the opposition, you have roles to represent your constituency, to legislate, and to oversee," he said, listing some of the roles of the opposition.

He claimed that the opposition legislators have focused on resolving issues that tend to benefit themselves, rather than Kenyans.

Citing an example of the talks at the Bomas of Kenya between the government and Azimio la Umoja, he explained that the issues Azimio has brought to the table are of no significance to the problems Kenyans are facing.

He added that dialogue at the Bomas of Kenya is not one of the major roles of the opposition.

"They are not performing oversight duties; instead, they are shifting from the platform they have been given to the Bomas of Kenya," Aukot admitted.

Furthermore, Aukot argued that the Constitution has mandated the opposition to perform their duties freely to ensure the government is held accountable, runs smoothly, and is put on notice, but they are not utilizing this opportunity.

He described the behavior of opposition leaders, particularly MPs aligned with the opposition, as "ignorant" and urged them to work according to what the Constitution requires of them.

The new Constitution of 2010 created the position of the majority leader to represent the ruling government and the minority leader to represent the opposition.

He defended the government over the issue of the cost of living, saying it is an obvious problem and they are on the way to solving it; this, he said, cannot be a valid reason for them to demonstrate.