This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
As the National Assembly prepares to implement the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report, a dispute has emerged between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Jubilee Party over the chairmanship of two crucial committees.
According to sources, ODM was promised four chairmanship positions in the committees after Tanga Tanga Members were purged out. However, Jubilee seems to be reneging on this promise, leaving ODM concerned that its interests in the BBI report will be compromised.
ODM has earmarked Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo to chair the Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC) committee, which will play a crucial role in implementing the BBI report. Amollo, one of the country's best Constitutional lawyers, will also protect the interests of the party in the report.
However, the Orange party is concerned that Amollo will not get the lucrative role because Jubilee has filled its slots in the committee with Tanga Tanga Members. As the Majority Party, Jubilee has 12 slots in the 19-member committee, which will determine who becomes the chair.
ODM National Assembly Minority Whip John Mbadi has raised concerns with his Majority counterpart Amos Kimunya, asking him to review the list and ensure only pro-BBI MPs join JLAC. Mbadi argues that Members who have opposed the BBI, like Gladys Shollei and John Kiarie, cannot be members of JLAC because they will sabotage the report.
Kimunya has maintained that the committees were not reconstituted to pass the BBI report and has warned ODM that they cannot dictate to Jubilee who should be included in which committee. He is being supported by David Murathe, the unofficial political spokesperson of the President.
