Basic House duties set as MPs embrace full in-tray

By , October 12, 2022

Members of the National Assembly have approved the reconstitution of the House Business Committee that plans the business to be transacted and without which Parliament is paralysed.

Yesterday, MPs voted unanimously for the committee. Its members include Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), Faith Gitau (Nyandarua Woman Rep), Omboko Milemba (Emuhaya) and Umulkheir Kassim (Mandera Woman Rep).

Others are Adan Keynan (Eldas), Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Tom Kajwang (Ruaraka), Sarah Korere (Laikipia North) and Joshua Mbithi (Masinga).

The eight will be joined by Speaker Moses Wetangula, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro and Minority Whip Junet Mohammed.

The first task of the committee will be to set the rules and procedures for the vetting of Cabinet nominees and Principal Secretaries, a process set to start next week on Monday.

Tabling the names, Ichung’wa (pictured) said the leadership considered party representation and regional balance.

“As you can see, the membership is from all the parties, including the so-called small parties. We have also considered gender parity,”  he said. Wandayi said it was now the expectation of members that Parliament will address the many problems Kenyans are facing. “The country is facing insecurity issues. Kenyans are being butchered like animals. This House is now past political campaigns. I expect the House and the Executive to do their work,” Wandayi said while seconding the motion on formation of HBC.

Other committees

All eyes will now focus on formation of other House committees ahead of next week’s vetting and the subsequent budget making processes.

The two main coalitions, Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja, are set to constitute the departmental committees. The clamour for leadership positions in the committees has started in earnest.

President William Ruto, who is the leader of Kenya Kwanza, is expected to give his final nod to the leadership of the committees, which is set to be tabled this week.

The President is expected to use the committees to reward his trustworthy and dependable members who stood and campaigned with him.

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