Senators protest move to retain old members of key committee

Kenya: The Senate approved the formation of its Crucial Rules and Business Committee yesterday amid complaints from some senators over retention of the same members who served in the last session.

Senators accused both majority and minority leaders; Kithure Kindiki and Moses Wetang'ula respectively of failing to reshuffle the important committee, which is tasked with drawing the agenda and the business of the House. They said it would have been prudent to rotate the membership of the committee.

The senators added that shuffling members at the beginning of every session would improve the committee's performance. Vihiga Senator George Khaniri said the shuffling of the list would ensure that other members gained the experience that comes with sitting in the committee.

The committee, which is chaired by the Speaker has both majority and minority leaders and their whips as automatic members, while seven others are picked by their parties.

Migori Senator Wilfred Machage said some of the members being retained had in the past failed the House by failing to appear for committee meetings, occasionally causing lack of quorum thus affecting Senate business. Busia's Amos Wako complained that consultations are never held in coming up with the committee members.