This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
Published on July 14, 2020, in The Standard, former National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale's allies have been relegated to less influential committees in the battle to control the House ahead of BBI constitutional reforms.
Yesterday, the Committee on Selection, chaired by National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya, transferred some of the vocal 'tanga tanga' members from the committees they had been nominated to and placed them in less active teams in a move perceived to tame their influence in the House.
Former Budget and Appropriations Committee chairperson Kimani Ichung'wa has been placed in the Members Service and Facilities Committee. He had been nominated to the Finance Committee following his de-whipping as the chair of the powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) leadership, which was in the hands of Ruto allies Baringo North MP William Cheptumo and Alice Wahome, has been handed to allies of Uhuru and Raila. Muturi Kigano is set to take up the chairmanship of the committee deemed crucial for the reforms, while Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo will be his deputy.
Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Shollei and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria have been placed in the Procedure & House Rules Committee and Committee on Implementation respectively. Shollei was de-whipped from Delegated Legislation Committee, where she was the chairperson, while Kuria was the vice chairperson of Transport Committee.
However, Pokot South MP David Pkosing and his Marakwet West counterpart William Kisang remained to chair Transport and ICT committees respectively, despite their perceived association with DP Ruto.
The changes are set to be adopted by the House tomorrow during a special sitting by the National Assembly.
