This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
Deputy President William Ruto has called on his allies in Parliament to put aside their differences and work together to serve the people, following changes in the leadership of various committees.
On July 16, 2020, Ruto took to Twitter to urge his allies to forge unity with those perceived to be allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta within the Jubilee wing, saying that with the changes in Parliamentary leadership now concluded, they should not be divided but work together in serving the people.
“With the changes in Parliamentary leadership, including committee membership and leadership now concluded, I urge all MPs not to be divided but work together in serving the people. Colossians 3:23 [says] ‘whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for God, not human masters’,” tweeted Ruto at 12:30pm.
The changes in the leadership of various committees saw most of Ruto’s allies, who previously held powerful positions in lucrative committees, pushed to peripheral memberships. The MPs are scheduled to start electing chairpersons of various House departmental committees following the de-whipping of Ruto’s allies.
Seven committees are scheduled to hold elections on July 16, 2020, according to the timetable released by the Office of the Director of Committee Services. The committees are Agriculture and Livestock, Education, Justice and Legal Affairs, Labour and Social Welfare, Trade and Industry, Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library, and Delegated Legislations.
One of the key National Assembly departmental committees that saw a Ruto ally, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, kicked out of as its chairperson, is the powerful Budget and Appropriation committee. Ichung’wah has since been moved to the Members Service and Facilities committee as a member.
Deputy President Ruto’s word of encouragement to his de-whipped foot soldiers comes nearly two weeks after he claimed that the MPs and senators allied to him were being persecuted for their close links with him.
