Ruth Odinga, Caroli Omondi and Kibagendi among MPs against broad-based govt affected in key House committees purge
By Mercy.Mwai, February 25, 2026The broad-based government made good its threat to kick out rebel MPs opposed to the arrangement after it removed them from lucrative House committees and placed them in less powerful ones.
Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wa tabled a supplementary order paper that introduced changes to new committee members.
According to the list the biggest casualties include Suba South MP Caroli Omondi who was ejected from the powerful Constitution Implementation and Oversight Committee (CIOC) which he was chairing and Kitutu Chache South MP Antony Kibagendi, was ejected from the powerful Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education where he was the vice chairperson.
Also suffered a major blow is Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto, a close ally of ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who has been moved from the committee on regional development and placed in the less powerful parliamentary broadcasting and library committee.
The three have lately been opposed to the broad-based government and have joined teams that have been advocating for the one term slogan.
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has also been moved from the Agriculture Committee to the Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities. She is still a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC).
Odinga, sister to former ODM party leader Raila Odinga, has publicly criticised the broad-based arrangement and defended embattled ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna.
Borabu MP Patrick Osero Kibagendi, an ally of Jubilee Party presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i, was also removed from CIOC and replaced by Moyale MP Prof. Jaldesa Guyo, seen as a supporter of the new political alignment.
“That, further to the resolutions of the House of Wednesday, 5th March 2025, Thursday, 6th March 2025 and Tuesday, 29th July 2025, appointing Members to various Committees and pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 175, this House approves the appointment of the following Members to the respective,” the order paper reads in part.
Leader of Majority Party Kimani Ichung’wah dismissed claims of irregularity, maintaining that due process must be followed in discharging members from committees.
“You do not leave a committee. You are either discharged and that discharge has to be approved by the House or you resign,” he said, accusing Mr Omondi of misleading Parliament by claiming he had resigned from another committee without formal notice.
Leader of Minority Junet Mohamed warned MPs who will not adhere to party positions that they will be removed from powerful committees to allow those supporting such positions to be rewarded.
“I am serving a warning. Anyone who will not adhere to party positions will relinquish their committee positions to lesser ones, so that they know that it is parties which reward people to positions. I wish I could go back as a whip, I used to be dangerous. Those people are playing with the party, ningenyoa hao bila maji,” he said.
“This issue of committees, I think in the next reconstitution, there’s an issue that we need to look at, there are members serving on committees who are not attending committee sittings, yet they continue to hold those positions while other members could serve more effectively. We would like to liaise with the Office of the Clerk to obtain the attendance records of every committee member.”
The changes have however seen the MPs who have recently aligned with the board-based arrangement benefiting.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba who recently re-joined the broad-based government and has been supporting Ruto’s second bid in office, has been taken to the CIOC after Caroli was removed from the same committee and to the committee on regional development.
Juja MP George Koimburi has been moved from the less powerful committee on parliamentary Broadcasting and Library and taken to the committee on national cohesion and equal Opportunity and the committee on regional integration where he had replaced Nakuru women Representative Liza Chelule
The newly elected Kasipul MP Boyd Were also scored big after he was moved to the powerful Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education which Kibagedi previously served.
Marakwet MP Timothy Kipchumba was also moved to the Justice Legal Affairs Committee from the Members’ Services and Facilities Committee.
Speaking after being removed from CIOC, Caroli said the reason why he is targeted is because they are aware that being chair, he will be supervising next year’s general election and thus they do not want him as they have a plan to rig elections.
“Mr. Speaker, I need to see a letter from Hon. Millie Odhiambo saying that she’s removed me from CIOC as a member, I have to see it. The person who nominated me has the power to discharge me, and the person who nominated me to be a member of CIOC was the Whip of Azimio,” he said.
“The power of the Selection Committee is to nominate members. I want to be shown the power of the Selection Committee under our Standing Orders to discharge me from a committee. “
In the new changes Omondi, Ugunja MP Moses Okoth will replace the Butere MP Tindi Mwale who is the chair of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Mbeere North MP Leo Wamuthende has moved to the committee on environment and Forestry and mining as well committee on implementation where she has replaced West Pokot Woman Representatives Rael Chepkemoi in the.
In the committee on parliamentary broadcasting and Library Kesses MP Julius Ruto to will replace Kipchumba who was move to JLAC, Magarini MP Harrison Kombe has replaced Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala who chairs the Committee on Implementation, at the petitions committee Chesumei MP Paul Kibichy will replace the late Isiolo South MP Tubi Bidu
In the Public Investments Committee on social services, Administration and agriculture, Banisa MP Hassan Ahmed Maalim will replace Mandera County Women Representative Sheikh, Umul Ker Kassim.
In the Special Funds Accounts Committee Kajiado Woman Representative Leah Sankaire replaced Kibichy, in the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture Malava MP David Ndakwa will replace nominated MP the late Joseph Denar, while in the departmental committee on tourism and wildlife Kasiwai will replace Sankaire.