Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro is among the lawmakers who will be de-whipped in the latest National Assembly changes. On Monday, February 17, President William Ruto and former prime minister leader Raila Odinga struck a deal to resolve the crisis in the National Assembly following the controversial ruling on which side is the majority. Has Ruto-Raila agreed on a new deal? In the deal, the duo agreed on new metrics for sharing National Assembly committee leadership posts to avoid paralysis in the House following Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s ruling.
The deal was reached during a meeting held at State House, which was attended by senior government officials including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, and Senate majority leader, Aaron Cheruiyot. Raila’s close allies, Senate minority leader Steward Madzayo, Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo attended the meeting in which Ruto agreed to allow Azimio to chair some critical house committees. The new deal will see the ODM leader’s close allies take up leadership of crucial committees previously chaired by allies of impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua among the casualties. “Yes, as Azimio, we have a deal with Kenya Kwanza on the leadership positions. More details will be there tomorrow (today). We have not decided on whom to give the positions, but we will discuss as a coalition after wide consultations and ensure the best occupy them,” a senior lawmaker said as reported by NTV.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro is among those targeted in the new changes. Photo: Ndindi Nyoro. Source: Facebook How will Ruto-Raila affect Moses Wetang’ula? Some of the committees that Ruto has allowed Azimio to chair include Budget and Appropriation, Health, Trade and Industry, Labour and Regional Integration. Kiharu lawmaker will be the biggest casualty in the new changes, given he was chairing the powerful Budget and Appropriation Committee. Gachagua’s close ally, David Gakuya, will lose the leadership of the Trade and Industry Committee, while Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia will be de-whipped from the Regional Integration Committee.
Raila’s team will also be allowed to appoint five chairpersons. for committees of their choice. In exchange, Azimio agreed to shelve their plans to table an impeachment motion against Wetang’ula. Will William Ruto appoint Raila to government? As reported earlier, major political realignments could soon be witnessed in the country. Belgut MP Nelson Koech hinted that Ruto could soon appoint Raila to the government. Koech said the former prime minister should be rewarded after losing the African Union Commission chairperson contest. According to the UDA lawmaker, Raila should be onboarded to the ruling government to offer leadership counsel to support Ruto’s administration.
by Amos Khaemba
