Ruto and Raila plan to control parliament for the next two years

President William Ruto and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are strategising to influence how Parliament will be conducting its business for the next two years by ensuring the leadership of 20 Senate Committees and 44 National Assembly Committees goes to their allies. Both the Senate and National Assembly are expected to overhaul their respective committees when the houses resumes from recess in February with Ruto and Raila expected to flex their muscles by ensuring that their allies are in charge of crucial committees that will help them push their agenda. The President has got a chance to influence the removal of allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from the leadership of both the Senate and National Assembly committees and may incorporate more of Raila allies at the leadership of the committees due to the broad based government. Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto. [File, Standard] National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula chairs the powerful House Business Committee the same with Senate Speaker Amason Kingi who chairs the Senate House Business Committee by virtue of their positions, with the two committees determining the activities of both houses of Parliament. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah is the Vice Chairperson of the House Business Committee with the committee having not less than 21 and not more than 29 members nominated by parliamentary parties and approved by the House at the commencement of every session. Wetangula also chairs the influential National Assembly Committee on Appointments that is tasked to conduct the vetting exercise for Cabinet Secretaries after they have been nominated by the President after which it tables its report to whole house either for approval or rejection. According to the National Assembly Standing orders the House Business Committee is tasked to prepare and if necessary from time to time adjust the Parliamentary Calendar with approval of the House and monitor and oversee implementation of the House Business and programmes. " The House Business Committee is tasked in implementing the Standing Orders respecting the scheduling or programming of the business of the House and the functioning of the Committees of the House; determine the order in which the reports of Committees shall be debated in the House," states the standing order. The House Business Committee is supposed to make decisions and issue directives and guidelines to prioritize or postpone any business of the House acting with the concurrence of the Leader of the Majority Party or the Leader of the Minority Party as the case may be. The Senate Business Committee chaired by Kingi has got 11 members who include the Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo among others and has similar roles as that of the sister house of Parliament. In the Senate Raila's allies Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang chairs the County Public Accounts Committee while Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi chairs the County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee and it will be interesting to see if they will be retained or replaced. The Senate Energy Committee will be having a new Chairperson after the former holder Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, a close Ruto ally who hails from Gachagua's backyard became a Commissioner with the Parliamentary Service Commission which was a reward for his loyality. Ruto allies in the Senate include Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi who chairs the Senate Liaison Committee, Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei who chairs Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, Mandera Senator Ali Roba who chairs the Senate Finance Committee and Baringo Senator William Cheptumo who chairs the Senate Security and Intelligence Committee. Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa who chairs the Senate Transport Committee, Nyandarua Senator John Methu who Chairs the Senate Lands Committee, Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee are Gachagua allies who are likely to face the wrath of Ruto and Raila allies when committees are reconstituted. Kajiado Senator Lenku Seki who chairs the Senate Trade Committee and Muranga Senator Joseph Nyutu who chairs the Senate Education Committee are some of the former Deputy President's allies who are likely to find it difficult to retain their position when the house resumes. "We have been threatened that we will be removed from being Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees for standing with the people who elected us and for being Gachagua allies, when the people of Kiambu elected me as their Senator they did not know that there are Chairpersons in parliament, as long as I remain a Senator of Kiambu, I am okay," said Thangwa. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba who chairs the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee is a key ally of Gachagua and has been a harsh critic of the current administration and it will be interesting to see if she will be left to continue serving in her current position. Embakasi Central MP James Gakuya who chairs the Trade & Industry Committee, Runyenjes MP Karemba Muchangi who chairs the Labour Committee and Kipipiri MP Wanjiku who chairs the Regional Integration Committee are some of Gachagua allies leading parliamentary committees. The Public Accounts Committee has always been chaired by the opposition and it would be interesting to see who will be elected to lead the committee which was formerly chaired by Finance Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi with Butere MP Tindi Mwale deputizing him. It will be interesting to see if Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who chairs the Budget and Appropriation Committee will be retained in that position after being accused of not being candid on his allegiance by failing to vote in support or against the impeachment of Gachagua. "We will have a time to talk about politics at a later date since I am someone who never shies away in voicing my opinion over various issues," said Nyoro. Molo MP Kuria Kimani who chairs the Finance & National Planning Committee, Belgut MP Nelson Koech who chairs the Defence, Intelligence & Foreign Relations and Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo who chairs the Administration & Internal Security Committees are key Ruto allies and it will be interesting if they will be retained.

Ruto and Raila plan to control parliament for the next two years

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Ruto and Raila plan to control parliament for the next two years

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