Sifuna kicked out of Oburu-led Senate Energy Committee
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, June 17, 2026Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has been removed from the Senate Energy Committee, chaired by ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga, following a reshuffle of standing committees announced in the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
The changes were communicated by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, who tabled a notice of motion seeking the reconstitution of several Senate committees as part of a broader realignment of committee memberships.
While presenting the motion, Cheruiyot informed the House that the changes had been proposed by the Senate Business Committee and required Senate approval.
“I rise to give notice of the following motion, which is a reconstitution of standing committees that, notwithstanding the resolution of the Senate made on February 12, 2025, is the approval of senators to serve in various committees,” Cheruiyot said.
“Pursuant to Standing Orders 197 and 191, the Senate approves the following senators nominated by the Senate Business Committee to serve in the standing committees of the Senate,” he added.
Under the changes, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ has been nominated to replace Sifuna in the influential Energy Committee, effectively ending the Nairobi senator’s membership in the committee that oversees legislation and policy matters relating to energy, petroleum, electricity and renewable energy.
Despite the removal, Sifuna retains his position in the powerful Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is responsible for scrutinising the use of public resources and examining reports from the Auditor-General.
Other reshuffles
The reshuffle also affected several other committees. In the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Committee, Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu was nominated to replace Senator Beatrice Ogolla. At the same time, Garissa Senator Abdul Mohammed Haji was nominated to the Energy Committee, replacing Ogolla.
Following her removal from the Energy Committee, Ogolla was nominated to the Senate Agriculture Committee, where she will replace Kajwang’, who has now been transferred to the Energy Committee.
The Senate Energy Committee, currently chaired by Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, plays a critical role in overseeing government policies and programmes in Kenya’s energy sector, including electricity generation and distribution, fuel pricing, energy access and renewable energy development.
Sifuna’s removal is likely to attract political attention given his prominence as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General and his outspoken positions on national governance and political issues. Although no official reason was provided for the changes, committee reshuffles are often undertaken to reorganise parliamentary work, accommodate political interests and strengthen oversight functions within the House.
The proposed changes are expected to take effect upon approval by the Senate, paving the way for the affected lawmakers to assume their new committee assignments.