Raila Odinga’s close allies in the Senate have secured seven out of the 19 committees, with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance controlling 11, following the completion of the reconstitution of the committees. This move to allocate some committees to members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party was the result of an agreement between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga to form a broad-based government. The casualties of this broad-based government are allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who have been removed from key committees, with their positions redistributed between the Kenya Kwanza coalition and the ODM party.
Apart from the two oversight committees – the County Public Accounts Committee and the County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee, which are traditionally chaired by the minority side – ODM members were awarded five additional committees to chair. Migori Senator Eddie Oketch (ODM) was elected as the Chairperson of the Senate Roads, Transport, and Housing Committee, while Samburu Senator Steve Lelegwe (UDA) was elected as the Committee’s Vice-Chairperson in an election held at Parliament Buildings. Oketch replaces Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa, a Gachagua ally who had chaired the committee for the past two years before being removed as part of the realignment of committee memberships by the Senate leadership.
In his acceptance speech, Oketch stated that the Roads, Transport, and Housing Committee had significant pending business that needed to be addressed. “It is a fact that the committee has not been performing well in executing its mandate, which is why I will be engaging members to ensure we conclude these issues,” Oketch remarked.
In other elections, Kwale Senator Issa Boy Juma (ODM) was elected as the new Chairperson of the Senate Trade, Industry, and Tourism Committee, while Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri (UDA) was re-elected as the Committee’s Vice-Chairperson. Juma succeeds Kajiado Senator Lenku Seki Ole Kanar, a Gachagua ally, who has also been affected by the recent purge of Gachagua’s supporters from key positions.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo (Jubilee) was elected as the Chairperson of the Senate National Security, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee, while Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda (ODM) was elected as the Committee’s Vice-Chairperson. Dullo, who is serving her third term in the Senate, takes over from the late William Cheptumo, the former Baringo Senator, who had chaired the committee for the last two years until his passing last week following a long illness. “Having served as a member of the Senate National Security, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee for the past 12 years, I believe I am up to the task to ensure we discharge our duty of safeguarding our country by liaising with the relevant agencies,” Dullo said.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna stated that he would seek to address the current security threats in the country and explore whether it is Kenya’s foreign policy to take an active role in the ongoing conflicts in neighbouring countries. “I chose this committee to better understand whether it is Kenya’s foreign policy to take an active role in ongoing conflicts in neighbouring countries. This committee will have to determine what our foreign policy is, particularly in relation to regional conflicts,” said Sifuna.
Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya (UDA) was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Senate Delegated Legislation Committee, while Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana (UDA) was elected as the Committee’s Vice-Chairperson.
