Kiharu Member of Parliament (MP) Ndindi Nyoro has been kicked out as the chairperson of the Budget and appropriation committee in the latest purge of Parliamentary committees.
Nyoro, who was serving as the chair of the Budget Committee, will now be a member.
The lawmaker has in the past been accused of being a bystander in combat and is among key allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who have faced the axe as the House passes a new list.
He has for months seen as a fence-sitter by many and has been absent from several of President William Ruto’s functions, including the swearing-in of Kithure Kindiki as Deputy President.
Ndindi Nyoro did not vote to impeach Gachagua, has since maintained a low political profile, and is considered one of the detractors of the government’s agenda in Parliament.
Ndindi Nyoro Kicked Out of Parliamentary Committee
Reports indicate that Nyoro’s lucrative Budget and Appropriations Committee will be handed over to Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi.
Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, Gatanga MP Edward Muriu, Juja MP George Koimburi and Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo are also among Gachagua allies who have been stripped of their committee roles.
Gakuya was the chair the Trade Committee and will now be a member while Ngogoyo was serving as a member of the environment, forestry and mining.
At the same time nominated Mp Irene Mayaka was appointed to replace Kibra MP as chair of the Regional Intergration Committee.
Also Read: Who Needs the Other More: Raila or Ruto?
Meanwhile, at least 5 Gachagua-allied MPs have been relegated to members of the services and facilities committee concerned with catering services for the legislators.
They include Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, who has been chairing the constitution implementation oversight committee; Roysambu MP Mwafrika Augustine Kamande, Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, who has been in the lands committee; and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya.
National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro stated that there are specific committees whose terms came to lapse during the last session and the committees have not neen sitting for the said period.
He went on to mention that over 90 MPs showed interest to be members of the budget and appropriation committee.
According to Osoro, during the reconstitution, they put in place the regional issues, the question of gender, political affiliations and counter negotiations.
Also Read: List of Gachagua Allies Removed from Key Positions
Committees to Appoints Leaders in Next 7 Days
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said the committees have seven days to convene, elect their chair and vice chair, and establish their schedule.
“You are obligated, in the committees that have been reconstituted, to elect the leadership—chair and vice chair—on or before Wednesday next week,” he said.
“Tomorrow, by 8 in the morning, the clerk is directed to release a schedule of meetings for various committees so that you can observe that schedule and meet as directed in the assigned rooms, with the clerk and his team supervising the election of the committee leadership.”
Wetang’ula asked the lawmakers to take the reconstitution as a work in progress, emphasizing that it is a dynamic process.
“Where there are gaps or issues to be addressed, you can go back to your caucuses or leadership. If they find merit in what you raise, they will be able to replace one member with another and bring it to the notice of the Speaker. When they do, we will follow due process,” the Speaker stated.
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