Several committee chairpersons in the National Assembly are facing removal under a new plan to realign Parliament with the broad-based government. This shake-up is expected to benefit allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga, signaling a potential political agreement between ODM and President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sources have revealed that MPs who have opposed Ruto or been ambivalent about Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment are at risk of losing their positions. ODM is reportedly positioning itself to take control of key committees, including those central to advancing Ruto’s legacy projects.
At least 10 committees are expected to be affected, with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, currently chairman of the powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee, among those likely to be removed. Nyoro could be replaced by Molo MP Kimani Kuria, who chairs the Finance and National Planning Committee.
ODM is also said to be eyeing the Finance Committee, though no official nominee has been put forward yet. In the final days of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, the Finance Committee chair was given to Gladys Wanga, now Homa Bay Governor.
In addition to Nyoro, other members of the Budget Committee may be ousted amid allegations of misallocating funds for projects in their constituencies. Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai, chair of the Petitions Committee, is also on the chopping block for what critics describe as a slow response to the committee’s workload.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, a staunch critic of Ruto and defender of Gachagua, may be removed from her position as chair of the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee. This role could go to Tiaty MP William Kamket, a former ally of Gideon Moi who switched support after the elections.
Other MPs facing removal include Trade and Investments Committee chair James Gakuya, who is expected to be replaced by vice-chair Maryanne Keitany, and Mwala MP Vincent Musau, who may lose his position on the Energy Committee due to criticism over his handling of the Adani deals with Ketraco.
Transport and Infrastructure Committee chair George Macharia and Labour Committee chair Eric Karemba are also likely to be removed, with both facing accusations of mismanagement within their respective committees. The Agricultural and Livestock Committee, led by Tigani West MP John Mutunga, could also be affected.
The planned overhaul follows growing calls from Ruto’s allies to remove those MPs who didn’t support them during Gachagua’s impeachment. Igembe North MP Geoffrey Ruku recently called for the reconstitution of committees, arguing that many chairpersons have failed to deliver during their tenure.
While some in Kenya Kwanza support the changes, there is division over whether now is the right time for such a purge. One targeted chairperson suggested that ODM may be behind the push for the reshuffle, claiming it is an effort to gain control of committees they’ve long eyed. However, there is concern that the reshuffle could backfire, potentially leading to a backlash from MPs who feel sidelined.
At least 44 MPs, including members of Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Party and some from ODM, supported Gachagua during the impeachment vote.
