Ruto allies take charge in Senate as lawmakers cry foul

President William Ruto’s allies bagged most of the leadership positions in Senate committees yesterday, with Opposition chief Raila Odinga’s associates also taking a considerable number of the posts.

The biggest casualties in the reconstitution of committees were former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s lieutenants who were axed from the leadership positions paving the way for members from the Orange party.

This even as some lawmakers threatened to walk out of the Senate Information Communication and Technology (ICT) committee if the newly elected chair Allan Chesang (Trans Nzoia) does not put his act together to make the committee more visible.

In a bare-knuckle approach, Boy Issa Juma (Kwale) said that a majority of the committee members did not want to attend the election meeting because they were not convinced that Chesang was the right person to lead the committee after a dismal performance in the past.

“I did not even want to be part of this committee. I don’t even know how I was nominated here. But the truth is we have a problem in this committee. We need to sort out our issues,” said Juma.

\He went on: “There is a problem with this committee. Unless there is some change I will be the first to walk out.”

Chesang, a first-time lawmaker, was elected the ICT committee’s chair during the first half session but his committee is among the moribund onrs in the Senate.

Some senators from Kenya Kwanza and Azimio who sought anonymity, said that they had protested about Chesang’s leadership, adding that the committee had not lived up to its potential.

“I am new in this committee but the responses am getting even before we start working are all negative. This committee has not been active. This committee is linked to the youth and the future. There is so much we can do,” said ODM’s nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian.

Elected unopposed
In the elections which had only three members with the rest being representatives, Chesang was elected unopposed as the chair for the remainder of the 13th Parliament. He will be deputised by nominated Senator Miraj Abdullahi.

“I was in the previous committee with (Vihiga Senator Godfrey) Osotsi. I am one of the few members who have remained. I want to urge the committee to work. We must be committed,” said Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang’.

In other elections conducted at Parliament Buildings yesterday, Hillary Sigei (Bomet) retained his position as the chair of the Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee. He will be deputised by Veronica Maina (Nominated).

In the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development committee, Wafula Wakoli (Bungoma) was elected unopposed taking over from James Murango (Kirinyaga). He will be deputised by Alex Mundigi (Embu).

Mundigi almost lost to Lemaletian in a hotly-contested election that could have threatened the newly formed alliance between Kenya Kwanza and ODM in the broad-based government.

In the Labour Committee, Julius Murgor (West Pokot) also retained his seat as the chair, to be deputised by Crystal Asige (Nominated).

Asige replaced her fellow nominated Senator George Mbugua who has since been reshuffled to another committee.

Mohammed Chute (Marsabit) retained his seat as the chair of the National Cohesion, Regional Integration and Equal Opportunities committee and will now be deputised by James Lomenen (Turkana) who was elected unopposed in his absentia.

ODM luminaries
Yesterday, Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki (ODM) bagged the Lands, Environment and Natural Resources committee chair position unopposed.

Faki is one of the few ODM luminaries who have benefitted from the broad-based government following the rapproachement between Raila and Ruto. Karen Nyamu (nominated) will now deputise Faki in the committee.

Nyamu was the immediate vice chair of the National Security and Defence Committee, which was being chaired by the late William Cheptumo (Baringo).

Last week, senators allied to Gachagua questioned why their positions were being distributed to the opposition yet there are those leaders, especially from the Mount Kenya region, who still support President Ruto.

The senators led by Karungo wa Thang’wa (Kiambu), Lenku Seki Ole Kanar (Kajiado), John Methu (Nyandarua) and Joe Nyutu (Murang’a) said that President Ruto had reneged on his promises and had instead chosen to reward those who never voted for him in the last elections.

“Why is President Ruto punishing a whole community for supporting Gachagua? Even if you don’t believe in us and you have decided to change the leadership, why can’t you give the positions of those who still support you from the mountain?” posed Methu.

He went on: “There are still those who are your sycophants from the region. You should have given them our positions instead of giving them to ODM.”

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