Uhuru, Ruto pick close allies for House seats

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto with Jubilee Senators at State House on Monday. (Photo:PPS)

By Vitalis Kimutai

Nairobi, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have picked their closest allies to steer Government business in the Senate and National Assembly ahead of its opening Tuesday.

Tharaka Nithi County Senator Kindiki Kithure of TNA was picked as the Senate Majority leader with his Kericho County counterpart Charles Keter (URP) being the deputy.

Nominated Senator Beatrice Arachi of the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) was picked as the Senate Majority whip but a decision is yet to be made on who becomes her deputy.

Some of the leaders are said to be pushing for Nairobi Senator Gidion Mbuvi to be appointed to the position in an announcement expected to be made later in the week.

Garissa Town MP Aden Duale was confirmed as the Majority Leader in the National Assembly with former Cabinet minister Naomi Shaban as the deputy.

Former Internal Security minister Katoo ole Metito is the parliamentary majority chief whip while Mumias MP Benjamin Washiali (UDF) was picked as the deputy chief whip.

“The list of the MPs who have been picked to the key positions in the National Assembly and the Senate was announced by Mr Ruto at the meeting,” said an MP who did not wish to be named.

The announcement was made during a luncheon hosted for the MPs by Uhuru and Ruto at State House. They later held separate meetings with the MPs and the Senators where they outlined their agenda.

First term MPs raised issues as to why they had not been considered for the positions but the President and Deputy President told them they would be given slots in the various committees in the National Assembly.

Mr Duale told the MPs the Jubilee Coalition was keen on taking over the chairpersons’ positions in the Parliamentary Committees owing to the high number of legislators under the coalition.

“We are going to ensure that we get not only majority members in the committees, but also chair most of them. We will, however, leave the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Investments Committee for the opposition so they can play a watchdog role,” Duale said while addressing the MPs during the meeting.

Regional balancing

Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui, who was eyeing the deputy chief whip position, said he was contented with the decision that had been made in the spirit of regional balancing.

“With the chief whip coming from Rift Valley, there is no way the deputy could come from the same region,” Kiptanui said in a brief statement.

Mr Metito’s position was a consolation for members of the Maasai community after former Speaker of the National Assembly Francis Kaparo, who is also the URP national chairman stepped down in the race for Senate Speaker for former Turkana Central MP Ekwee Ethuro, who went on to clinch the position.

Duale and Metito are expected to work alongside their deputies in picking members to the various committees and present them to Parliament this week.

Members of the House Business Committee, Budget Committee and Committee on Appointments has already been drawn and endorsed by the Principals. It is expected to be tabled in Parliament by Duale.

In the Senate, Prof Kindiki was finally named as the majority leader with Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe and Simon Wamathangi of Kiambu agreeing to take up positions in the Senate committees.

President’s lawyer

Kindiki is a key ally of Uhuru and Ruto, as he was one of the President’s lawyers in the presidential election petition filed at the Supreme Court by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. He is also Ruto’s lawyer at the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague.

Mr Kagwe was hoping that he would be picked by virtue of the fact that he is the only Narc Senator and the Senate Majority leader’s position had been preserved for party leader Charity Ngilu, who lost in the March 4 General Election.

Mr Keter is a key Ruto ally and had been tipped as one of those being considered for a Cabinet position, but with the new appointment, that may no longer be the case.

A dispatch from the Presidential Press to newsrooms stated that Uhuru and Ruto emphasised to the leaders the need for them to work together, as wananchi had high expectations of the Jubilee Coalition especially on development agenda and rolling out devolution.

Uhuru noted that the senators will play an important role of setting a precedent on how the two levels of government will work in delivering services to Kenyans.

Pre-election pledges

He called on the leaders to pass Bills to enable the coalition deliver on pre-election pledges in the shortest time possible, adding that he would operate an open door policy and would consult the MPs on a regular basis.

“I am keenly looking forward to working with you to make the Jubilee Government a true success story that will transform Kenya,” President Uhuru said.

Ruto underscored the need for the MPs to form a seamless focused team that will work together to steer the Government agenda in Parliament and reassured them that he and the President would support them in implementing development projects in their constituencies.

“Your success in managing constituency development agenda will translate to good services to Kenyans and victory to the Jubilee Coalition,” Ruto said.