Allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have been removed from membership and leadership of key Senate committees as the radical purge moves to the National Assembly.
This came even as it emerged that President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza wing has offered ODM chairmanship of five standing (sectoral) committees. Already, Raila Odinga’s allies have chair and vice chairmanship of two oversight committees.
They are the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee and the Senate County Public Accounts Committee.
The move could cement the Ruto-Raila political deal that birthed the broad-based government.
Gachagua’s troops have been purged from committees where they served as chairpersons and others moved from more influential and lucrative committees where they served as members.
Among those affected are James Murango (Kirinyaga), Karungo Thang’wa (Kiambu), John Methu (Nyandarua), Joe Nyutu (Murang’a) and Lenku Seki (Kajiado).
Also removed from the powerful committee are Ruto’s fierce critics namely, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and his Busia counterpart Okiya Omtatah.
Murango who served as chairman of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Committee, also lost his seat.
For Thang’wa, he was kicked out of the Roads, Transportation and Housing Committee where he has served as chairman since 2022. In a post on X, Thang’wa said the purge, which has been looming for months, has finally been effected.
“I knew it would happen! I expected it! The purge has been effected. I take it like a man and vow to soldier on, unbowed,” he said.
“Meanwhile, I sincerely thank the yellow party for freeing up my schedule. Chairing the Roads & Transport Committee at the Senate was great.”
The lawmaker said he is now free to take on the government.
“Now, with no shackles on my hands, it’s time to inject properly— without speed bumps! I continue serving the Nation and the People with my head high!” he said.
Besides Transport, Thang’wa has also been removed from the powerful Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.
Methu, on the other hand, suffered a twin blow after he was kicked out of the Land, Environment and Natural Resources Committee where he served as the chairman and as a member of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee where.
Just like Thang’wa, Methu also took to social media to announce his removal. He blamed his political alignment for the purge.
“It was an honour to serve in the house leadership as the chairperson of the Senate’s Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Committee as well as a member of the County Public Accounts Committee,” the first time lawmaker said.
“The political choice I have consciously made contributes to the stripping. But I bow out with absolutely no regrets.”
The same fate also befell Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu who was kicked out of the Education Committee where he served as chairman for the past two years.
Kajiado’s Seki, a close ally of Gachagua, was removed from Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism where he served as chairman.
The House leadership led by Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, his minority counterpart Stewart Madzayo, Majority Whip Boni Khalwale and his minority counterpart Ledama Olekina instituted the changes in all 19 committees.
Senators Onyonka and Omtatah, who have been critical of Ruto’s government, were both removed from the dreaded County Public Accounts Committee.
Last year, the Kenya Kwanza engineered the removal of Laikipia Senator John Kinyua from the Parliamentary Service Commission.
Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga replaced Kinyua in the powerful commission.
His nomination was approved to take up one of the most coveted and powerful slots in Parliament.
