By PETER LEFTIE pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Wednesday, February 2 2011 at 21:00
About a dozen MPs are likely to influence the fate of the four nominees in Parliament on Thursday afternoon.
Speaker Kenneth Marende announced on Tuesday that he will make a ruling on whether or not to admit the controversial list in parliament on Thursday afternoon.
The ten or so parliamentarians are seasoned debaters who have in the past influenced the direction of thorny issues in the House.
We profile the MPs and tell how they are likely to tilt the equation.
We profile the MPs and tell how they are likely to tilt the equation.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka
As the leader of government business and vice-president, Mr Musyoka is expected to lead MPs who support the tabling of the controversial list.
The long-serving Mwingi North MP will be counting on the PNU numbers in parliament and ODM MPs who have fallen out with the PM, mainly from Rift Valley.
Mr Musyoka may, however, have a hard time convincing suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto’s allies in Parliament who have already voiced their opposition to the nomination of Agricultural Development Corporation managing director William Kirwa as the Director of Budget on grounds that he is under investigation by a parliamentary committee.
Attorney-General Amos Wako
The long-serving Attorney-General will be caught between a rock and a hard place. Should he turn up in Parliament, he might now be contributing to debate against the official government position.
Mr Wako and Chief Justice Evan Gicheru have made their positions on the appointments clear when they attended a press conference called by the judiciary to criticise the nominations.
Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo
Mr Kilonzo has opposed the tabling of the nominees to the judicial offices and controller of budget on grounds that they are both unconstitutional and do not reflect gender balance.
Over the last couple of weeks, Mr Mutula has virtually opposed several government decisions on grounds that they are inconsistent with the constitution.
He criticised Mr Musyoka’s mission to lobby African Heads of State and government to petition the UN security council to defer the cases of the six Kenyans accused of masterminding the post-election violence, terming the mission an exercise in futility.
James Orengo
Another brilliant lawyer, the Lands minister has often offered Parliament direction in similar situations thanks to his deep understanding of the law and powerful contributions on the floor of the House.
At times like this, the ODM leadership is known to turn to Mr Orengo to fight its political and legal battles on the floor of the House.
Mr Orengo was the first MP to call a press conference to distance the PM from the announcement that he had named the four to various constitutional offices.
Mr Orengo was the first MP to call a press conference to distance the PM from the announcement that he had named the four to various constitutional offices.
Ababu Namwamba
As the vice chairman of the parliamentary committee that met in Naivasha to discuss the new Constitution, the Budalang’i MP has spoken against the tabling of the list on grounds that it is unconstitutional.
As the chairman of the parliamentary committee on legal affairs and administration of justice, he will play a pivotal role on Thursday.
Abdikadir Mohammed
The Mandera Central MP who was elected on a Safina party ticket, which is affiliated to PNU, has consistently refrained from the coalition wars and made decisions seen as fair to both sides or pegged on the law.
Speaking in Parliament during the Tuesday debate, Mr Abdikadir asked the two principals to rise to the occasion and consult further.
Martha Karua
The iron lady of the Kenyan parliament is known to fiercely argue and defend her position, however unpopular that position may be.
A brilliant lawyer and veteran reformer, the Gichugu MP hardly votes with president Kibaki’s allies, notwithstanding the political reality that her constituency is located at the heart of the PNU bedrock.
The former Justice minister is one of those who maintain that the list should not be brought to the House because it is unconstitutional.
Her deep understanding of the law and powerful delivery of issues is likely to sway some positions should Parliament chose to debate the list.
Jakoyo Midiwo and Johnstone Muthama
As joint government whips they will be crucial in sorting out supremacy wars.
Mr Muthama has been holding meetings with PNU MPs while Mr Midiwo has called a parliamentary group meeting on Thursday morning to strategise over the matter.
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