Nyandarua Senator John Methu has revealed that Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi is set to become the next Budget Committee Chairperson in what appears to be a pre-determined arrangement under the broad-based government.

Speaking on a local media station on Monday, March 10, 2025, Methu stated that committee leadership positions in both the National Assembly and Senate have already been pre-determined by party leadership rather than being contested elections with members expected to simply follow the directives.

“For all the elections that have happened at the Senate, for all the committees that have been there at the Senate, the elections have not been contested because these are issues that have been agreed upon. The decision of who chairs what is not really a decision of the members,” Methu stated.

In a surprising revelation, Methu categorically ruled out Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro from the Budget Committee chairmanship race despite speculation surrounding his candidacy.

“I can tell you straight to your face, Ndindi Nyoro is not going to be the chairman of the committee on budget. He will not even pick up his nomination paper,” Methu asserted.

According to Methu, members of the Budget Committee have already been directed to back Atandi for the chairmanship, emphasizing that the upcoming election process is merely a formality.

“As a team, in terms of making the broad-based arrangement work, we have settled on Sam Atandi to be the chairman of this particular committee. What will happen this week or next week will just be a rubber stamp of what has already been agreed,” he stated.

The senator further disclosed that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party leadership had issued strict instructions regarding the appointments, warning members against engaging with individuals perceived as rebels or aligned with the opposition.

“The leader of the majority wrote on our platform, ‘Those who are engaging rebels and the opposition, we shall dewhip you from those particular committees,'” Methu stated.

He further revealed that similar decisions had been made for other committees, including the Defence Committee, which is set to be chaired by Nelson Koech.

Methu, who is a member of the Education Committee, also claimed that committee members were instructed on whom to elect, with even non-members such as Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina present to oversee the process.

“The leadership was there; Senator Ledama was there, and he is not a member of that committee. So they confirm and affirm that the positions that have been taken will be effected,” Methu stated.

Ndindi Nyoro axed

On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Kiharu Constituency MP Ndindi Nyoro fell victim to the reconstitution of Committees of the National Assembly following a motion moved by South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro.

Osoro, who is the National Assembly Majority Whip, proposed names of the lawmakers to various parliamentary committees, stripping Nyoro of his role as the chairperson of the budget and appropriation committee.

The lawmaker, however, still has a chance of retaining his position if he presents himself for elections as chair or vice chair after being retained among the committee members.