By Alex Ndegwa

A flurry of secret meetings saw reason prevail in Parliament where MPs finally unanimously voted to form the House Business Committee, breaking a deadlock that threatened to derail constitutional review.

The vote effectively locked out Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s party deputy William Ruto and his allies from the HBC.

The fear of a public backlash ensuing from the looming paralysis of business barely a day after the House reopened, also nudged backbenchers to keep away from the ODM feud that triggered the crisis.

MPs’ secret night meetings see Parliament adopting powerful House team list that excludes Ruto and allies.

There had been a standoff over composition of HBC, largely fueled by ODM’s action to drop Mr Ruto, the Agriculture Minister, who has become a fierce critic of the Prime Minister.

Ruto’s supporters complained the Eldoret North MP was targeted for his differences with Raila and cited it as a sign of the party’s intolerance to criticism. They enlisted the backing of PNU members on Wednesday to block the list.

HBC decides the agenda of the House and no business can proceed until it is constituted. ODM sought to edge out its dissenting members from the committee to avoid giving their rivals PNU an upper hand in setting the agenda of the House.

Yesterday, backbenchers — including those who had voted to block the controversial list on Wednesday — broke the deadlock, citing national interest. The list of 21 names was approved in its original form.

Speaker consulted

But reports indicate Ruto had earlier met Speaker Kenneth Marende in the morning. Government Whips George Thuo and Jakoyo Midiwo are also said to have consulted the Speaker separately, in meetings that may have played a part in averting further confrontation.

In Parliament the MPs pointed at the need to ensure constitutional review stays on course in line with the time frames set out in the Constitution of Kenya Review Act 2008.

The Parliamentary Select Committee on constitutional review is expected to table the proposed constitution in the House on Tuesday, for a month-long debate ahead of the referendum.

Had the HBC Motion been scuttled, it would have required six months before reintroduction, essentially beating the purpose for the early recall of the House to debate the proposed constitution.

"The chair of PSC has indicated he is ready to table the Draft Constitution on Tuesday, and there are fears constitutional review could be derailed if we do not set up this committee," said Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara.

He was among members who had earlier opposed the proposal, saying the whips had not consulted party members when drawing up the list.

Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale stressed the need to embark on "important business of a new constitution" as he supported the Motion to approve the 21 nominees.

Dr Khalwale, however, asked the PM not to use his position to punish critics while telling Ruto — who was in the Chamber — he is "strong enough" to take up the grievance with relevant ODM organs.

The Public Accounts Committee chairman said he thought the greatest danger to constitutional review was differences "across parties" and not wrangling "within parties".

Fought back

Gichugu MP Martha Karua said those dissatisfied with the list could have proposed amendments since in the absence of such "I’m left with no option but to vote for the names before the House".

The former Justice Minister had at one time been struck off the list by PNU but she fought back with the help of backbenchers.

Others who supported approval of the names were Assistant Ministers Mwangi Kiunjuri, Ayiecho Olweny and Wilfred Machage.

On Wednesday when the new list was first tabled, Ruto’s allies dramatically opposed ODM’s replacement of the Agriculture Minister with party chairman Henry Kosgey.

The party wrangles saw business on the first day of the Tenth Parliament’s Fourth Session stall, a day after President Kibaki told the House in his opening speech to avoid partisan politics and focus on the heavy legislative agenda.

ODM also replaced Raila in the committee, a move that is perceived as an attempt by the PM to avert a showdown in the House with Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka over the leadership of Government Business in Parliament.