Deputy President William Ruto allies who were kicked out from more influential committees in the National Assembly are set to be replaced by senior Jubilee Members of Parliament (MPs).
Eldas MP Adan Keynan, who is also the Jubilee parliamentary group’s secretary, has been transferred from the Select Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities to the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations. He presided over the same committee in the 9th Parliament.
Another pro-handshake legislator, Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni, will take over the chairmanship of the Energy Committee from Nakuru East MP David Gikaria, who was kicked out last week.
Kioni currently serves as the chairman of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC).
Ayub Savula (Lugari), who has played a key role in defections from the Musalia Mudavadi-led ANC, is anticipated to take over as chairman of the Select Committee on Regional Integration.
He sits in the Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
Meanwhile, a motion to approve the names of members to sit in the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges committee was withdrawn after MPs protested that some of the members picked did not represent the dignity of Parliament.
Millie Odhiambo (Suba) questioned some of the MPs’ integrity, while Soipan Tuiya (Narok Woman Rep) and James Nyikal (Seme) complained about a lack of gender representation in the membership.
Members picked for the committee are Josphat Kabinga, Anthony Kiai, Vincent Tuwei, Francis Chachu Ganya, Didmus Barasa, Gladwell Cheruiyot and Andrew Mwadime.
Others are Omar Mwinyi, James Onyango Oyoo, Danson Mwashako, Oscar Sudi, Johana Ngeno and Wario Qalicha.
Speaker Justin Muturi directed that the motion be stood down and that the Leader of Majority proceed to reconstitute the membership.
Ruto’s allies affected by last week’s changes have been moved to less influential committees with Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga) moved from the Committee on Lands to the Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
Gathoni Wamuchomba, a Kiambu Woman Representative who was removed from the Agriculture and Livestock Committee, will now serve on the Communication, Information, and Innovation Committee.
Katoo ole Metito, who was stripped away as chairperson of the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee, has been transferred to the Agriculture and Livestock Committee. Gikaria has been assigned to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Kareke Mbiuki (Maara) transferred from Environment to Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives.