Speaking during a local morning talk show on April 2, 2026, Maanzo maintained that the political agreement has strengthened the ruling coalition’s numbers in Parliament, making it extremely difficult for any impeachment motion against President Ruto to succeed.
“Part of the opposition has joined forces with the government, giving them enough numbers to run things as they wish and to manipulate all parliamentary processes.
If this broad-based government had not been formed, President Ruto would have been impeached long ago,” Maanzo said candidly.
The senator, who has consistently spoken out on matters of oversight and accountability, cautioned that the arrangement has undermined the opposition’s core duty of keeping the executive in check.
“When elections are held, the opposition should stay in opposition and properly scrutinize the government,” he added. He alleged that both financial and political concessions have significantly weakened the country’s accountability systems.
The broad-based government was established following the violent 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests that rocked the nation and almost brought down Ruto’s administration.
Under intense public pressure, President Ruto withdrew the contentious bill, disbanded his entire Cabinet, and initiated talks with opposition leader Raila Odinga (now deceased).
This process resulted in the formation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) and the signing of a 10-point agenda Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March 2025.
Several ODM members were subsequently appointed to senior Cabinet roles, including John Mbadi as Cabinet Secretary for Treasury and Hassan Joho as Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. The coalition was intended to bring back stability, foster inclusivity, and speed up key reforms.
As of March 2026, the broad-based arrangement continues to hold strong. On March 10, 2026, President Ruto and ODM leaders convened a major Joint Parliamentary Group meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), during which they assessed the progress made on the 10-point agenda.
President Ruto has frequently praised the partnership for enabling major legislative milestones, such as the creation of the National Infrastructure Fund, the Kenya Pipeline Company IPO, and the fast-tracking of development initiatives including dams and sports facilities.
He has referred to the alliance as “Umoja ni nguvu” (unity is strength) and described it as vital for the country’s transformation.
ODM has restated its dedication to the broad-based framework, with party officials stating they will remain part of it at least until June 2026 and possibly until the 2027 General Election to ensure the completion of important reforms.
A recent progress report noted advancements in governance, youth job creation, and anti-corruption initiatives, although some legislative items are yet to be finalized.
Hello, my name is Yoruba. I'm a 25 year old self-employed blogger from the Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment