Raila Ruto allies win senate Committees leadership

Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki elected Chairman of the Senate lands committee at Parliament on February 24, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] Allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have been kicked out of Senate committees leadership as allies of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President Ruto took charge. Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki (ODM) was elected Chairperson of the Senate Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Committee replacing Nyandarua Senator John Methu, a Gachagua ally who has been removed from the committee. Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli (FORD-K), a close ally of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula was elected Senate Agriculture Committee Chairperson taking over from Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango, another Gachagua ally. Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute (UDA), a Ruto ally was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Senate National Cohesion, Regional Integration and Equal Opportunities Committee while Turkana Senator James Lomenen (Jubilee) was elected as the Committee Vice Chairperson. Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei(UDA), a Ruto ally was re-elected as Senate Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Chairman while Nominated Senator Veronica Maina(UDA) was elected as the committee Vice Chairperson replacing Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera(UDA). However, some Senators expressed their reservations after Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang(UDA) was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Senate Information, Communication and Technology Committee while Nominated Senator Miraj Abdullahi was re-elected as Committee Vice Chairperson. Kwale Senator Issa Boy Juma and Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian said Chesang had not offered the leadership that was required and that if he is not going to change his way of running the affairs of the committee they will have no option but to have a vote of no confidence in his leadership. "Members of the Senate ICT Committee have not been satisfied with the manner in which Senator Chesang has been conducting the committee activities in the last two years, if he is not going to change, we will initiate a vote of no confidence against him," said Juma. The Kwale Senator said that it was worth noting that only three committee members had turned up for the elections while the other six members asked their colleagues to represent them which was a clear indicator that they were not happy with Senator Chesang's leadership. West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor(UDA) was re-elected Chairperson of the Senate Labour Committee while Nominated Senator Crystal Asige(ODM) was elected as the committee Vice Chairperson taking over from Nominated Senator George Mbugua(UDA). Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga(ODM) who is Raila's elder brother was last Thursday elected as the Senate Energy Committee Chairperson with Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang(UDA) being re-elected to continue serving as the committee Vice Chairperson. The position was left vacant after Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga who is a Ruto ally was named as a Commissioner with the Parliamentary Service Commission in November last year replacing Laikipia Senator John Kinyua, a Gachagua ally who was forced out of the position. Nominated Senator Betty Montet(ODM) was elected as the Senate Education Committee Chairperson taking over from Murang'a Senator Joe Nyutu who is a close ally of Gachagua who was removed from the committee while Nominated Senator Margaret Kamar was elected the Committee Vice Chairperson. The ODM party has previously been in charge of two Senate oversight committees with Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang being the Chairpersons of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi serving as the Chairperson of the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds. Kajwang and Osotsi were re-elected last week with Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma and Migori Senator Eddie Oketch being elected as their Vice Chairpersons respectively in the committees whose leadership has been reserved for the opposition. Raila allies are expected to get more leadership roles in Parliamentary Committees leadership in the coming days as Ruto moves in to kick out allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with the two leaders now seeking to stamp their authority in the august house. Wajir Senator Sheikh Abbass(UDM) an ally of President Ruto was re-elected to be the Chairperson of the Senate Devolution Committee with Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma(ODM) an ally of Raila being re-elected to be the Committee Vice Chairperson. "I would like to thank the Members of the Senate Devolution Committee for giving me another chance to serve as their Chairperson, we are going to ensure that devolution works," said Abbass. Mandago who is a Ruto ally was re-elected as Chairperson of the Senate Health Committee with Nominated Senator Mariam Sheikh(UDM) being re-elected as the committee Vice Chairperson. Mandera Senator Ali Roba(UDM) was re-elected as the Senate Finance and Budget Committee Chairperson while Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda(UDA) was re-elected as the Committee Vice Chairperson with both of them being allies of President Ruto. "During the last session we achieved a lot including ensuring that our counties got more funds from the exchequer, we are going to ensure that there is prudent expenditure of funds allocated to all the 47 counties," said Roba. Gachagua's lieutenants have already been removed from crucial committees where they served as chairpersons and others moved from more influential and lucrative committees where they served as members as a means of curtailing his influence in parliament. Those affected include Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang'wa who has been chairing Transport Committee, Kirinyaga Senator James Murango who has been chairing Agriculture Committee, Nyandarua Senator John Methu who has been chairing the Lands Committee and Kajiado Senator Lenku Seki who has been chairing the Trade Committee.

Raila Ruto allies win senate Committees leadership

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