[dynamite]

Firstly, and paramount, we need an opposition. We have fought for too long, made too many sacrifices as Kenyans and seen too much growth in democtartic freedoms to forsake the need for a political opposition. The role of the opposition will be to put the Executive in check, propose alternative approaches, deepen the democratic rights to expression, to critic and to challenge the Executives actions. Without an opposition we would not have known of Goldenburg, Angloleasing, the Atur brothers. And more over Raila would not have had an opportunity to hone his abilities if he was not providing an alternative voice to the government of the day.

Having said that, the issue is how do we incorporate an opposition within the current grand coalition government. My take is that the converse should be allowed to happen, if an MP can join the government without loosing his seat, then an MP should be able to join the opposition without loosing their seat. Its that simple.

For some reason stalwarts in the fight for democracy tend to avoid having opposition to themeselves once in Government. This is wrong. Let the MPs formalize a position of organizied opposition to the Government. It is healthy, it is right, and will provide a counterbalance to the actions of the members of the executive.