10 ODM lawmakers picked to head National Assembly committees
By Lutta Njomo, March 14, 2025Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)-allied lawmakers have reaped big in the recent restructuring of various committees in the National Assembly.
While key allies of the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were victims of the purge, ODM confirmed its mass harvest on Friday, March 14, 2025, which is majorly attributed to the new-found bromance between President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The biggest win for ODM was in the Budget and Appropriations Committee, where Alego Usonga Member of Parliament Samuel Atandi took over from his Kiharu counterpart Ndindi Nyoro.
Nyoro’s ouster came despite the lawmaker remaining silent in Gachagua’s impeachment motion and the events that followed afterwards.
Atandi-led committee will be tasked with investigating, inquiring into and reporting on all matters related to coordination, control, and monitoring of the national budget.
Health Committee
Amidst challenges bedeviling the Social Health Authority (SHA), ODM lawmakers also gained control of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health.
Seme MP James Nyikal Wambura elected unopposed as the new chairperson of the committee, taking over from Endebess MP Robert Pukose.
Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, Gachagua ally, was also another casualty in the realignments as he was replaced at the Trade Committee by Ikolomani lawmaker Bernard Shinali.
Aldai MP Marriane Kitany retained her position as the Vice Chairperson of the committee.
Other committees
Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara was also among the biggest gainers in the ODM-UDA arrangement as he was elected vice chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Education.
Eve Obara will have a big task to help streamline the education sector with the state struggling to salvage the new university funding model, which was widely contested by various stakeholders.
Butere MP Tindi Mwale was also elected the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), while nominated MP Irene Mayaka won the Regional Integration chairmanship role.
Other beneficiaries include Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe (Public Investments Committee (PIC) on Social Service Administration and Agriculture), John Ariko Namoit (Vice Chair PIC on Energy and Commercial Affairs), Charles Ongondo Were (Vice Chair National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity), and Paul Abuor (Vice Chairman Regional Development).
Speaking in Kiambu County on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Raila Odinga defended the new pact insisting that the only way to help the government address some of the key issues facing the country is by allowing some of his members to join the administration.
He further vowed to continue championing Kenyans interests.
“Last year, we raised issues that needed to be addressed, but they can’t be solved unless leaders come together and talk,” Raila stated.
“That is why, when Ruto showed concern, he came to me, and I said, ‘Let’s sit down and resolve the 10 issues we agreed on.’ We have given them time to implement these resolutions.”