Senators are jostling for various lucrative positions in the yet to be reconstituted committees of the House.

All the 19 standing and sessional committees will be reconstituted for the fourth session of the 13th Parliament.

In addition to the reconstitution of the Standing and Sessional committees, yesterday the senators approved Ali Roba (Mandera), Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo), Hillary Sigei (Bomet), Mohamed Faki (Mombasa), and nominated senators Crystal Asige, Shakila Abdalla and Veronica Maina as members of the Senate Business Committee (SBC).

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Leader of Majority Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) and his Minority counterpart Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Majority Whip Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) and his Minority counterpart Ledama ole Kina (Narok) will also form part of the committee by virtue of their leadership positions.

Abdalla and Asige have replaced senators Agnes Kavindu (Machakos) and Tabitha Mutinda (Nominated) in SBC.

SBC deals with the operations of the Senate where they prioritise the activities on the floor of the House.

The Public Accounts Committee, the Public Investment and Special Funds Committee and the Delegated Legislation Committee are the ones eyed most.

According to Senate Standing Orders, Sessional committees are supposed to be reconstituted at the beginning of every session of Parliament.

Currently Homa Bay lawmaker Moses Kajwang’ chairs the Senate Public Accounts Committee and deputized by Samson Cherargei (Nandi) while the Senate Public Investment and Special Funds Committee is chaired by Godfrey Osotsi (Vihiga) deputized by Prof Tom Ojienda (Kisumu).

At the beginning of the 13th parliament, Kenya Kwanza used its numerical strength to push through a list of all the chairs and deputy chairs of the Standing Committees, including the Delegated Legislation Committee chaired by Mwenda Gataya (Tharaka Nithi) and deputised by Danson Mungatana (Tana River) which was to be chaired by the opposition.

The three committees should be chaired by a member of the minority party or minority coalition of parties in the House.

Apart from the three sessional committees, senators are lobbying to be put in other Standing Committees that will make them visible.

“We want to engage everyone before we reconstitute the committees. We will consider expertise of a Senator, institutional memory and other factors. We will reconstitute very good committees,” said Ole Kina.

Yesterday Madzayo was categorical that all the committees are going to be reconstituted, citing that there were some committees that had become moribund and that there is need to make them active again.

“Majority of the committees were moribund. There is need for us to put people who are mature, academically upright and professionals in the committees for them to be active. On our side as Azimio, you will see us constituting committees with professionals,” said Madzayo.

The Kilifi lawmaker while listing the legislative agenda for Azimio, said that they will be asking questions on whether President William Ruto made the right decision to remove the requirement for vetting of residents of North Eastern region before getting national Identification Cards.

Madzayo said that Azimio will also be seeking clarification on whether the High Court ruling that Azimio is the majority on affects the National Assembly or the Senate as well.