ODM’s Seme MP James Nyikal has been elected unopposed to chair the National Assembly’s departmental committee on health.

Nyikal who replaces Endebess MP Robert Pukose who joins the Budget Appropriations Committee as the vice chairperson will be deputized by the Chuka/Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene.

Also, Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara was elected as the Vice-chairperson of the departmental committee on education at the National Assembly. Tinderet MP Julius Melly was retained as the committee’s chairperson.

Raila congratulates Atandi

The development comes just after ODM party leader Raila Odinga congratulated Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi for being elected unopposed to the powerful Budget Appropriations Committee (BAC).

Atandi replaced Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who has served in the position since 2022 when the committees were constituted.

Other ODM leaders who have been elected to committee leadership include Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were who is now the Vice-chairperson of the committee on cohesion, nominated MP Irene Mayaka who now chairs the committee on regional integration, with Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali poised to take over leadership of the committee on trade and industry.

Legislators dewhipped

At the senate, several legislators allied to the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua lost their positions in the leadership of key committees which will be taken over by their ODM counterparts.

Those dewhipped from senate committees include Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa who has been removed from the Roads and Transport committee, Nyandarua Senator Methu Muhia who has been axed from the Environment and Lands committee, Kajiado senator Lenku Seki who chaired the Trade and Industry committee, Kirinyaga senator James Murango who chaired the agriculture committee and Muranga senator Joe Nyutu from the education committee.

In the National Assembly, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and his Githuunguri counterpart Gathoni Wamuchomba were axed from the leadership of Trade and Constitution implementation committees respectively.

Vocal critics of the government including Busia senator Okiya Omtatah and Kisii senator Richard Onyonka were also removed from the watchdog committee of the senate- Public Accounts Committee.

The developments come after President William Ruto and Odinga signed a cooperation agreement on March 7, 2025, to stabilize the country and deliver on the Kenya-Kwanza election promises.

While ODM insists the pact is not about the 2027 elections, the new arrangement has resulted in the Orange Party taking up various leadership positions previously reserved for UDA and Kenya-Kwanza coalition partners.

Legislators allied to Gachagua have decried their removal from committees, noting that it is an elaborate plan to isolate them from the decisions of the country.