On February 12, 2025, the National Assembly of Kenya witnessed a lighthearted moment during a serious debate about the status of the majority party in Parliament.
Homa Bay woman representative Joyce Bensouda sparked laughter among MPs when she humorously compared the Azimio la Umoja coalition’s majority status to her own body size.
The debate was centered around a recent High Court ruling that declared Azimio as the official majority party in the National Assembly, despite some ongoing disputes about defections and the shifting political dynamics.
Bensouda, known for her wit and straightforwardness, used the opportunity to make her case while also bringing some humor into the tense discussion.
She began by strongly supporting the court’s decision, urging Speaker Moses Wetang'ula to respect the ruling, much like the Supreme Court decision on William Ruto’s presidential election in 2022.
“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.
Then, in a humorous twist, Bensouda made a playful comparison between Azimio's majority and her own physical appearance.
“As you can see, I am ‘broadly majority.’ Azimio is broadly competent and broadly majority, even from the physical outlook,” she said, causing laughter in the chamber.
Her words were a light-hearted attempt to emphasize that Azimio, both in size and influence, holds the majority position in Parliament. She also mentioned that her "broad" intellectual capacity was in line with the majority status of her party.
Bensouda’s comments weren’t just about humor; she also made a serious call for consistency in handling the issue of party majority status in Parliament.
She praised Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, the current minority leader, for his efforts in representing the coalition and maintaining peace during this ongoing dispute.
Bensouda urged for a clear, consistent approach to ensure that similar disputes could be resolved with more certainty in the future.
However, the matter was not without contention. Several MPs from the Kenya Kwanza coalition pushed back against the claim that Azimio is the majority party.
They pointed out that defections from Azimio, along with the formation of a "broad-based" government, had weakened the coalition’s hold on the majority position.
These MPs also argued that the ruling came too late, as many government decisions had already been made, with little clarity on how to address such situations.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, responding to the calls for clarity, stated that the courts do not have the authority to determine which party holds the majority in Parliament.
He emphasized that this decision falls solely under the jurisdiction of the Speaker, not the judiciary. Wetang'ula’s comments further added to the complexity of the situation, as MPs continued to debate who should be considered the official majority party.
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