House purge: Ruto sets stage for Gachagua allies’ removal

President William Ruto has set the stage for the removal of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua’s allies from plum National Assembly committees.

The former Deputy President’s allies have been removed from the committees they initially chaired, or were members, to less influential panels.

A new list of committee members published by the leadership of the majority and minority sides shows that while some have been retained, their seats are up for grabs.

A number of Wiper MPs have also been affected in the changes where Members of Parliament who support the broad-based government are also poised for major roles. Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has been retained in the Budget Committee.

However, it remains to be seen if he would defend his seat in the elections of new chairpersons and vice-chairpersons that MPs are required to hold within a week.

In the changes, Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia has been removed from the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to the Broadcasting Committee.

Runyenjes MP Eric Karemba has been removed from the Labour committee where he was chairperson and moved to the Constitutional I m p l e m e n t a t i o n O v e r s i g h t Committee (CIOC).

Noticeably, a number of Gachagua allies have been crammed in CIOC, including Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru, aka Mejjadonk.

Others who moved to CIOC are Mary Wamaua (Maragua), Teresiah Wanjiru (nominated) and Manyatta MP John Mukunji. 

Embakasi North MP John Gakuya, who was chairperson of the Trade committee, has been moved to the Broadcasting committee.

Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara has been removed from the Lands Committee, where she was vice chairperson and moved to the Members Services and Facilities Committee.