Senator Karungo Thang’wa (Kiambu) stated that the purge had been anticipated for months and had finally been executed by the Senate leadership. ‘I knew it would happen! I expected it! The purge has been carried out. I take it like a man and vow to soldier on, unbowed. Meanwhile, I sincerely thank the yellow party (UDA) for freeing up my schedule. Chairing the Roads and Transport Committee in the Senate was a great experience,’ Thang’wa posted on his X account
Nearly all allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have been removed from leadership and membership of Senate sessional and standing committees. Instead, at least five committees will now be chaired by members of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) following his rapprochement with President William Ruto, which led to the formation of a broad-based government.
On Thursday, the minority coalition in the Senate secured the leadership of two key watchdog committees—the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee (CPISFC) and the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC)—winning both chairperson and vice-chairperson positions.
In a motion passed by the Senate on Wednesday evening, Gachagua’s allies were systematically removed from committees where they had held chairmanships, while others were reassigned from influential and lucrative committee positions.
Senators Karungo Thang’wa (Kiambu), Lenku Seki (Kajiado), James Murango (Kirinyaga), Joe Nyutu (Murang’a), and John Methu (Nyandarua) were stripped of their committee chairmanships, with their replacements being allies of either President Ruto or Raila Odinga.
Beyond Gachagua’s supporters, fierce critics of Ruto, including Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, were also removed from their former committees and reassigned elsewhere.
Although elections for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the remaining committees are scheduled for next week, Thang’wa, who was ousted as chairman of the Roads, Transportation and Housing Committee— a role he had held since 2022—took to social media to inform his supporters of the purge.
Thang’wa stated that the purge had been anticipated for months and had finally been executed by Senate leadership. “I knew it would happen! I expected it! The purge has been implemented. I take it like a man and vow to soldier on, unbowed. Meanwhile, I sincerely thank the yellow party (UDA) for freeing up my schedule. Chairing the Roads and Transport Committee in the Senate was a great experience,” Thang’wa posted on his X account.
He added that his removal would allow him to challenge the government more aggressively.
“Now, with no shackles on my hands, it’s time to inject proper oversight—without speed bumps! I continue serving the Nation and the People with my head held high,” he declared.
In addition to losing his Transport Committee chairmanship, Thang’wa was also removed from the influential Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee. Nyandarua Senator John Methu suffered a double setback, being ejected from the Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Committee—where he served as chairperson—and from the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, where he was a member.
Like Thang’wa, Methu also took to social media to announce his removal, attributing it to his political stance. “It was an honour to serve in Senate leadership as Chairperson of the Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, as well as a member of the County Public Accounts Committee,” Methu wrote. “The political choice I have consciously made has contributed to my removal. But I bow out with absolutely no regrets,” added the first-term senator.
Murang’a Senator James Murango, who chaired the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Committee, was also removed from the influential panel overseeing agricultural policy. Meanwhile, Senator Joe Nyutu (Murang’a) was ousted from the Education Committee, where he had served as chairperson for the past two and a half years.
Similarly, Kajiado Senator Lenku Seki Ole Kanar, a close ally of Gachagua, was removed as chair of the Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism Committee. The Senate leadership, led by Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Majority Whip Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), and Minority Whip Ledama Olekina (Narok), oversaw the sweeping changes across all 19 sessional and standing committees.
Senators Onyonka (Kisii) and Omtatah (Busia), both vocal critics of Ruto’s administration, were removed from the powerful County Public Accounts Committee. With the reconstitution of the committees, Ruto’s allies are expected to retain their chairmanship positions, while some vice-chairpersons are likely to be promoted to full chairmanship roles.
Last year, Kenya Kwanza orchestrated the removal of Laikipia Senator John Kinyua from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), replacing him with Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga in the influential body.
