Several National Assembly committee chairpersons face removal from their plum positions in a fresh plan to realign Parliament with the broad-based government.
Allies of opposition chief Raila Odinga are set to reap big from the changes in what will be another major signal of an imminent 2027 political deal between ODM and President William Ruto.
Sources intimated to the Star that MPs who have broken ranks with Ruto, especially those who opposed or were wishy-washy about Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment, face a bloodbath.
ODM is reportedly lining up to take leadership of some of the strategic departmental committees, including some that are key to actualising Ruto’s legacy plan.
At least 10 committees could be affected. Among the big names likely to be kicked out is Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, current chairman of the powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee.
It is emerging that Nyoro is likely to be replaced by Molo MP Kimani Kuria, who is the chairman of the Finance and National Planning Committee.
ODM is said to be eyeing the Finance Committee. However, the party is yet to front any of its MPs for the seat.
In the dying days of
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reign, the Finance Committee position was handed to
Gladys Wanga, now Homa Bay Governor.
Apart from Nyoro, members of the Budget committee could also be removed.
Some of the committee members have been accused of skewing the budgets for Energy, Education, Roads, Water and Wildlife projects to their constituencies.
Likely to be also affected is Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai, who is the chairman of Petitions Committee.
The committee has been under fire for what critics see as sluggishness in handling matters before it.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, a fierce critic of Ruto and unapologetic defender of Gachagua, is also likely to face the sack as chairperson of the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee.
The job could be taken by Tiaty MP William Kamket, a Kanu MP who ditched Gideon Moi soon after the elections.
Wamuchomba was among the few Mt Kenya leaders who vigorously opposed Gachagua’s impeachment.
Another MP targeted is Trade and Investments Committee chairman James Gakuya.
He will be replaced by
vice chairperson Maryanne Keitany (Aldai MP).
Sources further intimate that Mwala MP Vincent Musau could be removed from the Energy Committee for allegedly failing to “handle” the issue of Adani deals with Ketraco.
“The feeling is that he let the Senate carry the day on the question yet the docket lies under the National Assembly,” an official aware of the intrigues said.
Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairperson George Macharia of Ndia constituency is also on the chopping board.
The committee is facing accusations of unfair distribution of road contracts and projects.
Also facing the purge is Labour Committee chairman Eric Karemba, who was among MPs who stood with Gachagua during the impeachment.
The changes could also
affect the Agricultural and Livestock Committee chaired by Tigani West MP John
Mutunga.
The developments have come in the wake of concerted calls by Ruto’s men that those who abandoned them when they needed the vote to remove Gachagua should be punished.
Recently, Igembe North MP Geoffrey Ruku opened the conversation and called on Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah to kickstart the process, saying the targeted chairpersons have little to show for the two-plus years they have held the seats.
“We need to reconstitute the committees before we head to December recess so that we are able to align the leadership of committees of the National Assembly to deliver the mandate of Parliament,” he said.
“There are some chairmen of committees who have to be removed for others to occupy the seats, so that Parliament can play its role and serve Kenyans. We don’t want chairmen who are rent-seekers and budgeting corruption in the national budget,” Ruku said.
Opinion is, however, divided among Kenya Kwanza honchos on whether the time is right to instigate the committee changes.
One of the targeted chairpersons told the Star in confidence that they believe ODM was instigating the mega overhaul.
“For us, we want the purge to target those who did not work with us when we had a serious matter before the House [Gachagua’s impeachment]. Our friends, who we appreciate working with, want to take advantage of this to push for committees they have been eyeing,” the lawmaker said.
The MP stated that while the purge had been discussed, their standpoint as a party is that the angle being pursued by their partners may precipitate a backlash.
“There will be changes, not just affecting chairpersons, but also members who we believe did not rally with us on the recent project,” the MP said.
At least 44 MPs stood by Gachagua in the impeachment, including members of Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Party and some from ODM.
