MPs amused as Joyce Bensouda likens Azimio’s majority to her body size: “I’m broadly majority”

• Homa Bay woman representative Joyce Bensouda urged the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to respect the decision of the court
• Bensouda argued that Azimio was the majority party, both physically and intellectually, just like her
• In response to their demands and conflicting opinions from some Kenya Kwanza MPs, Wetang’ula stated that the courts do not decide on which party is the majority

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Nairobi – Homa Bay woman representative Joyce Atieno Bensouda caused a light moment in the National Assembly during a debate on the High Court ruling that declared Azimio la Umoja as the official majority party.

Drawing parallels to the 2022 Supreme Court verdict that upheld William Ruto’s presidential election, Bensouda emphasised the importance of respecting court decisions.

“Mr. Speaker, you know very well that when there was a ruling on the wild goose chase, hot air, and the rest, it was respected. As a lawmaker, I want to support my colleagues who have requested you to provide guidance. This will not only serve members at this particular moment but also set a precedent for the future so that when we face similar situations, there is clarity,” she remarked.

Why does Bensouda want Azimio declared majority party?

Addressing the contentious issue of which party holds the majority position in parliament, Bensouda humorously likened Azimio’s broad reach to her body size.

“As you can see, I am ‘broadly majority.’ Azimio is broadly competent and broadly majority, even from the physical outlook,” she quipped, adding that her intellectual capacity also reflects this “broad” dominance.

Bensouda further called for consistency in resolving the majority party dispute, lauding Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, the current minority leader, for his efforts in representing the coalition and maintaining peace.

The debate on Azimio’s majority status has been contentious, with Kenya Kwanza allies arguing that defections from the coalition and the formation of the so-called “broad-based” government weaken Azimio’s claim.

Other MPs also criticised the timing of the ruling, arguing that it was long overdue. They noted that numerous government decisions had already been made, highlighting the need for clarity on how such cases should be handled in the future.

Speaker Moses Wetang’ula weighed in, asserting that the court does not have the authority to determine the majority party.

He maintained that this decision lies solely with the speaker of the National Assembly.

The matter remains a divisive issue in parliament as lawmakers seek clarity and direction on how to handle such scenarios in the future.

Fury as Peter Salasya livestreams parliament session

Meanwhile, during the debate, Mumias East MP Peter Salasya was compelled to apologise and delete videos he had taken while livestreaming a parliamentary session.

Salasya, seated in a corner, went live on social media, stating that his role was to “make noise” and demand the removal of Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah as majority leader following a court ruling.

Wetang’ula ordered the Clerk of the National Assembly to retrieve Salasya’s login details for review after the MP denied livestreaming the session, an act that is prohibited by parliamentary rules.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke