More upsets as Raila men strengthen grip on House

Seme MP James Nyikal, was elected unopposed as the chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health. [File, Standard] Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement consolidated its superiority in Parliament on Thursday when it swept three more committee leadership positions at the expense of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's allies. The second day of committee elections at the National Assembly were characterised by more upsets by ODM in exercise that spelt more pain for sympathisers of the impeached Gachagua. At the Trade, Industry and Co-operatives Committee, Ikolomani MP Benard Shinali was yesterday elected as the chair, taking over from his predecessor Embakasi North MP James Gakuya. Aldai MP Marianne Kitany who, served as the vice chair under Gakuya, retained her position. Speaking shortly after the elections, Shinali said his committee would prioritise probe into loss of billions through Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (Saccos). "We as a committee are going to streamline operations of Saccos. Problems of cooperatives emanate from their leadership. Within no time, after our retreat, we should be able to call you back here again and give you our action plan," stated Shinali. Interestingly, the ministry - Cooperative and Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development and Marketing - under which Saccos are domiciled is presided over by former ODM deputy party leader, Wycliffe Oparanya. The script remained unchanged at the Health Committee where Seme MP James Nyikal, was elected unopposed as the chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health. He will be deputised by Chuka Igambang'ombe MP, Patrick Munene, who retains his position in the committee's leadership. Nyikal takes over from Endebess MP Robert Pukose remains a member of the Health Committee but has also been reassigned to the Budget and Appropriations Committee, where he has been elected vice chairperson, deputising Alego Usonga MP, Samuel Atandi. In the Education Committee, Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara was elected as the vice chairperson. She took the place following the demise of the previous holder, Malava MP Malulu Injendi. Tinderet MP Julius Melly will continue steering the committee. These came after Rongo MP Paul Abuor was elected as the vice chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Regional Development. He secured the seat after defeating Teso South MP Mary Emaase with three votes. The committee conducted the election to fill the vice chairperson's position which fell vacant following the committee membership reshuffles. Peter Lochakapong remains the chairperson. Yesterday's developments were a continuation of ODM's snap up of key National Assembly committees. On Wednesday, Raila Odinga men took charge of crucial House committees that were formerly chaired by their Kenya Kwanza counterparts, signalling the entrenchment of the so-called broad-based agenda in Parliament. The sibling rivalry within ODM, however, played out during the elections, with the outcome of the results further widening the rift within the party and the larger Azimio Coalition. At the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), an intense election held behind closed doors saw Butere MP Tindi Mwale and Garissa Woman Representative Amina Siyad elected as the chairperson and the vice chairperson, respectively. According to the National Assembly's Standing Orders, the PAC chairmanship is reserved for a party or parties not forming the national government and forming the minority. Accordingly, ODM had settled on Mwale as its preferred candidate in a move that insiders revealed had been backed by the party leader, Raila. However, internal dissent within the party saw another section of MPs sitting in the watchdog committee field Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo as a challenger to the position. For the vice chairmanship position, a splinter faction backed Funyula MP Wilberforce Ounda, going against the party which had settled on Siyad. The development prompted the intervention of the Majority and Minority whips at the National Assembly Sylvanus Osoro and Junet Mohammed. Before the voting exercise, Osoro was seen summoning MPs and issuing instructions on how to vote. He was also seen hurtling up and down Bunge Tower, in and out of committees where elections were being held. Junet, who sits in the PAC committee, led the charge in voting in Mwale.

More upsets as Raila men strengthen grip on House

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