Keynan, Kioni to replace Ruto MPs kicked out of key House committees
Senior Jubilee MPs are set to replace colleagues who were recently removed from crucial committees in the National Assembly for working with Deputy President William Ruto.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan, who is also Secretary of the Jubilee parliamentary group, has been moved from the Select Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities to the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations.
The MP, who is one of the longest-serving members, is set to chair the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee.
Keynan (pictured) chaired the same Committee during the 9th Parliament. Under him, the committee censured then Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula for his involvement in the controversial sale of Kenya’s embassy residence in Tokyo.
Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni, another pro-Handshake legislator, is set to take over the chairmanship of the Energy Committee to replace Nakuru East MP David Gikaria who was de-whipped last week.
Kioni is currently the chairperson of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC).
Sources say Ayub Savula (Lugari), who has been instrumental in defections from the Musalia Mudavadi-led ANC, is likely to take over the chairmanship of the Select Committee on Regional Integration.
He sits in the Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
Meanwhile, a motion to approve the names of members to sit in the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges committee was stood down after MPs protested that some of the members picked did not represent the dignity of Parliament. Millie Odhiambo (Suba) said some of the MPs’ integrity was questionable while Soipan Tuiya (Narok Woman Rep) and James Nyikal (Seme) said that the membership lacked gender representation.
Members picked for the committee are Josphat Kabinga, Anthony Kiai, Vincent Tuwei, Francis Chachu Ganya, Didmus Barasa, Gladwell Cheruiyot and Andrew Mwadime.
Others are Omar Mwinyi, James Onyango Oyoo, Danson Mwashako, Oscar Sudi, Johana Ngeno and Wario Qalicha.
Speaker Justin Muturi directed that the motion be stood down and that the Leader of Majority proceed to reconstitute the membership.
Pro-Ruto members affected by last week’s changes have been moved to less influential committees with Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga) moved from the Committee on Lands to the Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
Kiambu Woman Rep Gathoni Wamuchomba, who was removed from the Agriculture and Livestock committee, will now sit in Communication, Information and Innovation committee.
Katoo ole Metito, who was removed as the chairperson of the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee, has been moved to the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock.
Gikaria has been moved to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
Kareke Mbiuki (Maara) moved from the Environment to Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
