- Otiende Amollo says Kenya’s unity government is eroding parliamentary independence.
- He claims MPs fear being labelled anti-unity when questioning bills.
- Despite supporting the unity deal, he insists Parliament must remain accountable.
- The 2025 agreement between Ruto and Raila aimed to promote stability but now faces criticism for silencing opposition voices.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has voiced concerns that Kenya’s broad-based government, meant to promote peace and stability, is slowly undermining the independence of Parliament.
Speaking during an interview on Spice FM, Amollo said the inclusive arrangement that followed the 2022 elections has come with unintended consequences, one being the shrinking space for parliamentary scrutiny.
“While the broad-based government is a good thing for this country, one of its unintended effects has been to reduce the level of scrutiny and opposition to bills that may not be good,” he stated.
The senior ODM legislator noted that lawmakers who question government proposals are often painted as enemies of unity.
“Some of us who raise questions during debate are immediately accused of being against the broad-based government. I’m one of them,” he remarked.
Otiende clarified that he still supports the unity deal but stressed that it must not override Parliament’s oversight role.
“The 10-point framework agreement does not say anywhere that we must support legislation and proposals even when they are wrong,” he added.
The “broad-based government” emerged from a March 7, 2025, agreement between President William Ruto and the late ODM leader Raila Odinga. The deal united the UDA and ODM parties under one national agenda, promising to heal political divisions and foster long-term stability.
At the signing ceremony, Raila Odinga described it as a move to “stabilise and save the country,” emphasising it was a pact between the two major parties, not the entire Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
“We have agreed to build our country rather than tear it down,” Raila declared.
While the unity pact has been praised for calming the political climate, critics argue it has blurred the boundaries between government and opposition. They warn that such political closeness may weaken democracy by silencing dissenting voices in Parliament.
Supporters, however, maintain that the arrangement has promoted harmony and national unity, reducing political hostility that once divided the nation.
Otiende Amollo’s remarks highlight a deeper concern that Kenya’s pursuit of unity may be coming at the cost of accountability. His caution serves as a reminder that even in peace-building, parliamentary independence remains vital to safeguard democracy and ensure government actions remain under scrutiny.
