Jubilee parties set to control Senate committees

By Stephen Makabila

The Jubilee Coalition is set to flex its muscle in the Senate by denying CORD chairmanship of any of the 13 House committees that have so far been approved.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki has made it clear that Jubilee will not cede control of any of the committees to CORD.

“We have constituted the committees and the battle is now on who becomes the chairmen and deputies through competitive elections and Jubilee intends to chair all the committees,” Kindiki told The Standard on Sunday in an interview.

Kindiki said CORD has to wait for two proposed committees that are yet to be approved by the House, which he noted have an element of oversight on finances at the county levels.

“CORD can only chair oversight committees and this means the two we are to propose this coming week, and not any of those we approved on Thursday,” said Kindiki.

The Jubilee stand is likely to draw strong opposition from CORD, as the two coalitions fight for supremacy in the second strongest institution after the presidency, playing an oversight role over the National Assembly and State officials.

While the House Rules and Business Committees under the chairmanship of Speaker Ekwe Ethuro had been formed earlier, 12 other committees were approved by the close of business on Thursday. The three categories of those approved include Standing Committees, which are seven, Sessional Committees that are three and two joint committees.

Under Standing Committees are the committee on Agriculture, Land and Natural resources, the committee on Education, Information and Technology, the Committee on Energy, Roads and Transport, the committee on Finance, Commerce and Economic affairs, the committee on Health, Labour and social welfare, the committee on Legal Affairs and human rights and the committee on National Security and Foreign affairs.

The Sessional committees are the Committee on Devolved Government, the committee on Implementation and the committee on Delegated Legislation while the joint committees are the National Cohesion and Equal opportunity and the committee on Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library. All the committees have nine members safe for the joint committees that have 15 members each.

Jubilee enjoys majority in the Senate especially after post-election deals that brought on board Kanu, UDF, Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) and New Ford-Kenya among others.

Under wraps

Already, Jubilee has the Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s slot, as well as the chair of the Rules and Housing business committee under wrap.

During a recent induction for Senators in Naivasha a week ago, Kindiki had indicated a deal could be struck on how to share the positions of committee chairs if Wetangula approached him. Ethuro maintained it was upon members of each committee to seat and decide who becomes their chairman through voting.

Minority Chief Whip in the Senate, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama argues CORD can still beat Jubilee in some of the contests to chair the committees, even as the Majority Chief Whip nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi sees a Jubilee sweep.

It has emerged Jubilee has already a preferred line-up for those earmarked to chair the committees, and the lobbying is intense.

Under the Standing committees, Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti is to go for chair of Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources, Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe for Education, Information and Technology chair, Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi for Energy, Roads and Transportation while Mandera Central Kerrow Billow for Finance, Commerce and Economic Affairs chair.

Others within Jubilee eyeing chairs include Mohamed Kuti for Health, Labour and Social Welfare, Dullo Fatuma for Legal Affairs and Human Rights and Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji for the chair of National Security and Foreign Relations. Under Sessional Committees, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen is set for the chair of Devolved Government, Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale for Implementation chair and Samburu’s Sammy Leshore for Delegated Legislation. Joint committees have Senator Peter Mositet for the National Cohesion and Equal opportunity while youthful senator, former journalist Lesuuda Naisula for the chair of Broadcasting and Library committee.

Proposed teams

According to Kindiki, the two proposed committees whose chairmanship has been reserved for CORD senators, and which may be approved by the Senate this coming week are the Counties Accounts Committee (CAC) and the Counties Investment Committees (CIC).

“The CAC and CIC if formed can be chaired by CORD which is the minority because they deal with the oversight role at the counties when it comes to financial and investment issues,” added Kindiki.

The dominance by Jubilee in the Senate is similar to that in the National Assembly, where the ruling coalition has 16 less MPs to hit the 232 absolute majority.