The removal of legislators allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from powerful committees of the House will take place in the first week of December, just days before the lawmakers break for the long December holidays.

Sources privy to the ongoing deliberations disclose that the changes will take place at that time in order to avoid backlash as already some parliamentarians have made it clear they will object to the said changes.

“Some of these people will have to go, there is no shortcut about it. This one we must clean up,” a source privy to the deliberations told People Daily.

The purge comes at a time Gachagua and his allies have dug in and insisted that they will not be intimidated, and instead will continue speaking the truth.

Show respect

Yesterday, the former DP sustained his criticism of the government, telling off leaders who have demeaned Catholic Bishops for finding faults in the Kenya government administration.

Gachagua called on the leaders to show respect to the clergy, to stop talking down on them or lecturing them, terming the voice of the church as the voice of God. He added that before the clergy makes any statement, they first do a proper public participation among the faithful and the majority of Kenyans to understand their issues.

The impeached DP said it was paramount for the church to remain independent and without criticism because they can easily self-regulate without interference from any quarters.

Gachagua was speaking during a church service at PCEA Kerarapon in Kajiado North constituency, Kajiado county.

Intense lobbying

Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku said the government has failed Kenyans on health because the Social Health Insurance Fund is not working.

“The government has failed Kenyans on SHIF, our people are dying in public hospitals and nothing is being done, this is a matter that the government must clarify and the church must call out this regime,” the senator said.

His sentiments come at a time when MPs are engaged in intense lobbying to be considered as chairpersons of some of the committees when their colleagues are removed.

Apart from Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which has not had a chairperson since the appointment of former nominated MP John Mbadi as Cabinet Secretary, MPs are also eyeing the committees held by the lawmakers perceived to be loyal to Gachagua.

Among those on the chopping board include Budget and Appropriations Committee chairman and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Gatanga’s Edward Muriu and Kirinyaga Woman Rep Njeri Maina, who are members of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC). Others are Embakasi North’s James Gakuya, who chairs the Trade Committee, Wamuchomba who chairs the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee along with 13 other MPs.

Nyoro who in the past has been loyal to President William Ruto is in trouble due to his decision to skip the National Assembly voting on the impeachment of Gachagua as well as due to his absence during the swearing-in of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.