MPs meet today to determine who gets House Committee and Parliamentary Service Commission jobs

 

Members of Parliament will today unite in supporting or rejecting specific slots they have been allocated by their parties in the House committees.

Equally, the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) chaired by National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi will also be a battleground for new commissioners or lawmakers.

There are, however, murmurs among lawmakers on the choice of committees to which they have been selected to sit in despite submitting their two preferences as directed by their parties.

Of the 32 committees in the National Assembly and 16 in the Senate, Transport, Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Public Investment Committee (PIC), Defense and Foreign Relations and Energy have attracted  the greatest interest

Gunning for the PSC positions are:  MPs Ben Momanyi (Borabu-Wiper), Simba Arati (Dagoretti North), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), Elijah Memusi (Kajiado Central-ODM), Senator George Khaniri (Vihiga), Katoo Ole Metito (Kajiado South) John Waluke (Sirisia) and Naomi Shabana (Taveta).

However, things appear not rosy for the former commissioners Senator Beth Mugo, Gladys Wanga (Homabay County MP) and Adan Keynan (Eldas) who are seeking to retain their seats as legislators blame them for  not pushing for the review of their  perks.

Factors such as self-interest, incompetence and the scrapped allowance by Salaries and Remuneration Commission may work against the former commissioners.

But against this backdrop, the candidates have pitched tent at the offices of the Majority leaders Aden Duale (Garissa Town) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo/Marakwet). They are seeking the support of  Minority Leaders Senator Moses Wetangula (Bungoma) and John Mbadi (Suba South).

NASA has submitted three names: Khaniri, Jumwa and Wanga, while Jubilee has Keynan, Shaban, Mugo and Katoo.

After days of serious lobbying among the Minority and Majority sides, claims of MPs being short-changed in some committee has stoked a fire ahead of the tabling of the of NASA and Jubilee names in both Houses.

Already, some MPs viewed as aggressive, have been replaced from their previous positions to prevent them from seeking the  from seeking the chair post.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto are expected to chair the Jubilee Parliamentary Group (PG) whip members to vote for specific individuals to PSC and chair of the committees.

NASA principals are also scheduled to meet their team to deliberate on the matter ease tension in Parliament.

“We are finalising our list which will be made public once the committee on selection has approved it on Wednesday, what we have now are just proposals,” said Mbadi.

On a Wiper  party letter to Speaker Muturi recommending Momanyi’s nomination to PSC he said: “The Standing Orders are very clear. Communication to the House is through the Minority or Majority leaders or whips. The letter from the constituent party of NASA does not hold water and it ia a diversionary tactic."

He however confirmed authorising two letters to the Speaker; the first nominating Memusi to PSC andthe second rescinding earlier position and replacing him with Wanga.

“On further consultations, I was directed to forward Wanga’s name,” he said.

“We are only going to release a list discussed and agreed by the principals. MPs were to be placed in two committees, those who fail to get their favourite committees should understand it was not possible based on the numbers.”

Senate Minority Whip Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni) also concurred with Mbadi, saying they will unveil the list today even as he confirmed knowledge of the Wiper letter to Muturi.

"The PSC issue is contentious on both sides," he said, adding that Wiper officials held a meeting to deliberate on the same and will give its feedback soon.

Based on the reviewed Standing Orders  MPs can only serve in two committees.

Also, the chairs of committees cannot serve in other committees as was the case previously in the last Parliament.

Likewise, Majority Whip Ben Washiali (Mumias East) confirmed that their list will be out after the PG meeting with the President and DP.

Just like NASA is dealing with overwhelming interests in PAC and PIC, Jubilee has to contend with Defense, Energy, Budget and Finance committees.