The National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has emphasised that
performance, consistent attendance of Committee meetings, and active
participation will be key factors in the reconstitution of House Committees.
Wetang’ula said committees are the engine of parliamentary work and stressed that members who demonstrate dedication, competence, and accountability in their roles will be prioritised in the new structure.
Wetang'ula urged the Leader of the Majority Party Kimani Ichung’wah, and the Leader of the Minority Party Junet Mohamed, and their respective Whips to expedite the process of restructuring the committees.
The Speaker emphasised the importance of ensuring that the committees are fully functional and aligned with the objectives of the House by the time it resumes its sittings.
He further encouraged members to take their committee responsibilities seriously, emphasising that the effectiveness of the House largely depends on the commitment and performance of its committees in discharging their mandates.
The reconstitution process, he added, should ensure fairness and inclusivity while maintaining a strong focus on the expertise and contributions of individual members to maximize the productivity of the House.
“I direct the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader to move in earnest and reconstruct the 18 committees whose life has come to an end with the last session,” Wetang’ula said.
He spoke on Tuesday during the official opening of the 2025 mid-term retreat for members of the national assembly.
“Now get ready to bring to House Business the new list of members to various committees, so that we can process and have new leadership or continued leadership with the committees taking into account, as you say, performance, regular attendance of committee meetings, and the industry to which you put in those attendances,’ he added.
Among the committees whose life has ended are sessional committees which include; the House Business Committee (HBC), Powers and Privileges Committees, Procedure and House Rules Committee and Members Services and Facilities.
Others are 15, appropriation and general purposes committees including Public Accounts Committees (PAC), Budget and Appropriations Committee, Public Debt and Privatisation Committee.
Others are the Public Petitions Committee, Committee on Implementation, Committee on Delegated Legislation, Regional Integration Committee and National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity among others.
Speaker Wetang’ula asked majority and minority leaders to expedite the process of the reconstitution saying that by the time the House resumes, members designated to various committees will be properly constituted.
“You know none of you can be denied a membership of at least one or two committees, the work is going to be done by your leadership. Please don't visit the office of the speaker and ask him to help to be placed in any committee because he has no such capacity,” he said.
Ichung’wah said the reconstitution of the committees will reflect the various capacities, expertise and abilities as well as industry exhibited by members.
Ichung’wah, who also chairs the Committee on Selection, explained that he recognizes the gaps in various committees created by MPs who have joined the Executive.
“We are currently working on their replacements and will communicate the same at the appropriate time so that we fill the gaps that are available as well as leave some positions for members who will be joining us after the by-elections,’ Ichung’wah said.
National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge said the large number of pending legislative proposals poses a worrying trend.
Njoroge noted that more than 200 legislative proposals have not been attended to by Committees.
“I want to take this opportunity to urge chairpersons of the Committees to expedite the process of dealing with the legislative proposals drafted by Members and pending on their in trays,” Njoroge said.
"All eyes are on the Committees in regards to clearing with the business that is pending before them.”
