Broad-based government good for country but weakening Parliament – Otiende Amollo

Nairobi — Veteran legislator Otiende Amollo has sounded the alarm over the implications of Kenya’s new broad-based government model, arguing that while the arrangement promotes inclusivity and national cohesion, it is simultaneously weakening the role of the National Assembly of Kenya in overseeing the Executive. The Rarieda MP made his remarks during a radio appearance, saying the unity deal has lowered scrutiny of government bills and created a political environment where questioning the Executive is increasingly framed as disloyalty.
Amollo said the collaboration between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) under the pact signed on March 7 2025 was meant to stabilise the country and bring diverse voices into governance.
But he warned that the unintended consequence has been a super-majority effect in Parliament, where opposition and debate are muted because legislators fear being labelled as working against the unity agenda. While the broad-based government is a good thing for this country, one of the unintended effects it has had on Parliament is to reduce the level of scrutiny and opposition to bills that may not be good, he said.
In his view, the dilution of legislative oversight poses serious risks for Kenya’s democratic systems. Amollo pointed to examples of legislation being fast-tracked with minimal deliberation and raised concerns that the Speaker’s dual role as a party leader in the government coalition compromises the independence of Parliament.
He reiterated his support for the broad-based deal in principle but stressed that it does not mandate unconditional backing of every government proposal: The 10-point framework agreement does not say anywhere that we must support legislation and proposals even if they are not correct.
Looking ahead, the durability of the broad-based government will partly hinge on how Parliament reasserts its constitutional role as a check on the Executive. Analysts say that as the country gears up for the 2027 general elections, pushes for more independent legislative procedures and clearer boundaries between the government and opposition will become louder. Failure to restore a robust legislature may erode public trust and hamper effective governance.