Raila gains power in Parliament as Gachagua's allies lose key positions

Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi is expected to take over the chairmanship of the Budget Committee. [File, Standard] ODM leader Raila Odinga has continued to gain a foothold in Parliament, thanks to his working relationship with President William Ruto. Ahead of the announcement of what is expected to be a major political deal between the former premier and the President, Raila has continued to leverage on his pact with Ruto to gain control of the House at the expense of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. After taking control of seven crucial committees in the Senate, Raila stands to reap more from a shakeup of the National Assembly committees that was completed on Wednesday. On Thursday, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula announced that elections for committee chairs will be held next week. "During yesterday's (Wednesday's) sitting, the House approved the reconstitution of members to 41 committees. As you are aware, the Standing Orders requires that whenever a vacancy arises in the office of the chairperson or vice chairperson of a select committee, the Clerk shall within seven days appoint a time and place for the meeting of a committee to elect its chairperson and vice chairperson," said Wetangula. "The changes made will take effect from next week Wednesday. The clerk is directed to circulate a schedule showing the time and place of election of chairpersons before the rise of the House today. This implies that the elections of the chairpersons and vice chair persons shall take place on Wednesday March 12, 2025 or March 13, 2025," stated the Speaker. Multiple sources that spoke to The Standard revealed that Raila's lieutenants are set to take over the leadership of five committees ceded by the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance ahead of the voting next week. These are the Budget and Implementation, Labour, Health, Trade and Investment, and the Regional integration committees. This follows consensus between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja, ending a stalemate that began in January. The Standard has established that Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi is poised to take over the chairmanship of the Budget Committee, Nominated MP Irene Mayaka the chairmanship of the Regional integration committee, Seme MP James Nyikal the chairmanship of the Health Committee and Ikolomani MP Benard Shinali will chair the Trade committee. The chairmanship of the Labour committee is yet to be decided. At the Senate, Raila, who formerly controlled two out of the 19 Senate Committees, will have his close supporters making crucial decisions. Raila is currently moving around the country to "gather views on his next political move" after losing the Africa Union Commission chairmanship election last month. The ODM leader has already been to Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, Mombasa, Kilifi, Wajir, Kisii and Nyamira counties. Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, who is Raila's elder brother, was elected as the Senate Energy Committee chairperson taking over from Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, a Ruto ally who is currently serving as a Commissioner with the Parliamentary Service Commission. Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, who is serving his third term in Parliament, was re-elected to serve as the chairperson of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee which is one of the two Senate committees that have been led by the opposition. This was after the former Deputy President Gachagua allies were removed from powerful committees and placed in less influential ones. At the National Assembly, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba and Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba, who are Gachagua loyalists, were the first chairs of committees, who were felled by the broad-based government sword after they were removed from the helm of powerful House committees and placed in less influential ones. Gakuya, who chaired the Trade, Investment and Cooperatives committee, was removed and placed in the Broadcasting and Library services. Wamuchomba, who held the reins at the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC), was placed in the Member services committee while Karemba was yanked from the Labour committee where he was the chair and placed in the CIOC committee. Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who has been considered a fence sitter following his decision to abstain from voting during Gachagua's impeachment, was also removed as the Budget Committee chair but retained as a member of the House team. Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto also fell victim of the purge when he was removed from the Public Investments Committee on Social Services and the Communication, Information and Technology committees and placed in the regional development committee. Kirinyaga Women Rep Jane Njeri was removed from the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) and placed in the National Cohesion Implementation Committee (NCIC). Gatanga MP Edward Muriu was removed from the Justice and Legal Affairs committee and the Powers and privileges committee and moved to the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library services committee. Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo, who is considered a strategic ally of Gachagua in an area that is predominantly ODM, was also removed from the Energy, Forestry and Mining committee as well as the Environment committee. He was not placed in any committee. Marakwet West MP Timothy Toroitich, who vied as an Independent, was also put on the chopping block after he was removed from the Education and Justice and Legal Affairs committees and placed in the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library services committee. Toroitich was vocal against the impeachment of Gachagua and voted against the motion. Also placed in the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library services committee is Juja MP George Koimburi. Roysambu MP Agustine Kamande Mwafrika also fell victim to the purge and was placed in the Members services committees while Manyatta MP John Mukunji was removed from the Housing committee but retained in the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee. Peter Salasya - who despite being from the Azimio side is a fierce critic of President Ruto - was removed from the Agriculture committee and moved to the members services House team. He refused to vote for Gachagua's impeachment. At the Senate, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who is one of the ODM deputy party leaders, was re-elected to serve as the chairperson of the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee which is the other Senate Committee that has been led by the opposition. Migori Senator Eddie Oketch (ODM) was elected to chair the Senate Roads, Transport and Housing Committee replacing Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang'wa, an ally of Gachagua. "The Senate Roads, Transport and Housing Committee has a lot of pending business which we are going to deal with. It is a fact that the committee has not been doing well in executing its mandate, that is why I will be engaging members to ensure we conclude them," said Oketch. Kwale Senator Issa Boy Juma (ODM) was elected the new chair of the Senate Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee taking over from Kajiado Senator Lenku Seki, an ally of Gachagua. Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki (ODM) was elected to take over as the chairperson of the Senate Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Committee replacing Nyandarua Senator John Methu, a Gachagua supporter. Nominated Senator Betty Montet (ODM) was elected the Senate Education Committee chairperson taking over from Muranga Senator Joe Nyutu, a close ally of Gachagua. Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli, an ally of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, was elected chairperson of the Senate Agriculture committee taking over from Kirinyaga Senator James Murango, who supports Gachagua.

Raila gains power in Parliament as Gachagua's allies lose key positions

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