ODM set to reap as Gachagua allies axed from powerful committees

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has been removed from the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee. [File, Standard Allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the National Assembly were on Wednesday kicked out of powerful committees. Raila Odinga's ODM party, which is now part of what Kenya Kwanza calls broad-based government, is set to reap from the purge, assuming the control of five influential committees previously chaired by the ruling alliance. Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, and his counterparts Gathoni Wamucomba (Githunguri) and Kirinyaga Women Rep Jane Njeri were moved from the helm of powerful House teams and placed in other less influential committees. Gakuya, who chaired the Trade, Investment and Cooperatives Committee, was placed in the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Services, while Wamucomba was kicked out of the leadership of the the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) to Member Services Committee. Njeri, who sat in the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, will now be a member of the National Cohesion Implementation Committee. Muchangi Karemba (Runyenjes) was moved from the Labour Committee that he chaired and placed in CIOC as a member. Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who abstained from voting during the Gachagua impeachment, was also removed as the Budget Committee chair but retained as a member. Tetu legislator, Geoffrey Wandeto, also fell victim to the purge after he was removed from Public Investments on Social Services, and Communication, Information and Technology committees and placed in the Regional Development Committee. Jayne Kihara (Naivasha Town) was moved from Lands to Members Services committee, while his Gatanga colleague, Edward Muriu, was shifted from the Justice and Legal Affairs and the Powers and Privileges committees to Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Services. Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo, considered a strategic ally of Gachagua in an area that is predominantly ODM, was also removed from the Energy, Forestry and Mining as well as the Environment committee. He was not placed in any other. This is a matter he protested on the floor of the House when the names were tabled by the Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro on Wednesday. "You can't remove me from my two committees without according me a hearing. Whatever has been tabled in this House is Kangaroo (sic). The Speaker cannot oversee my removal without a notification from my party," he lamented. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, however, urged the lawmaker to take up the issue with his party's leadership. Marakwet West MP Timothy Toroitich, who vied on an independent party, was also on the chopping block after he was removed from the Education and the Justice and Legal Affairs committees and placed in the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Services Committee. Toroitich voted against the impeachment of Gachagua. Also placed in the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Services Committee is Juja MP George Koimburi. Roysambu MP Agustine Kamande Mwafrika also fell victim after he was placed in the Members Services Committee while Manyatta MP John Mukunji was removed from the Housing Committee but retained in the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee. Peter Salasya (Mumias East), a vocal critic of President William Ruto, was also removed from the Agriculture to the Members Services team. Salasya refused to vote against Gachagua. Sources indicated that Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi is poised to take up the chairmanship of the Budget Committee, while ODM Nominated MP Irene Mayaka would chair the Regional Integration Committee. James Nyikal (Seme) is said to be the favourite for chairmanship of the Health Committee, and Ikolomani MP Benard Shinali the Trade Committee. Wetangula directed the teams to elect chairpersons and their deputies by Wednesday.

ODM set to reap as Gachagua allies axed from powerful committees

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ODM set to reap as Gachagua allies axed from powerful committees

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