MPs Omondi, Kibagendi removed from key house committees amid ODM reshuffle

Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi/FILE

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi and his Kitutu Chache South counterpart Antoney Kibagendi have once again been affected by recent developments within their ODM party.

Omondi was last evening removed from a key house committee of the National Assembly that he chairs; he described the move as irregular.

He no longer serves as Chairperson of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC), while Kibagendi was removed from his position as Vice Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education.

For Kibagendi, the change came a week after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula suspended him indefinitely from the house over remarks he made on Citizen TV, suggesting parliament had surrendered its independence to the executive.

Membership of house committee seats is a reserve of parliamentary parties, which exercise discretion in appointing members.

However, the latest changes appear to have originated from the Selection Committee, whose role is to nominate members to serve in committees, but does not include powers to remove members.

“One, my understanding of the word discharge as a matter of legal definition is to be released, to be terminated, or to be discontinued as a member of a select committee, which has happened in this case because my name has been excluded from the membership of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee,” Omondi said.

The Suba South legislator questioned why the changes were not communicated to him by either the Speaker or his Suba North counterpart, Millie Odhiambo, the Minority Whip.

“I have not been accorded an opportunity to be heard, neither has the speaker informed me that he received a notice, nor has the party whip shared with me a letter recommending that I be removed from that committee,” he said.

While requesting to see a written letter from the whip and notification from the Speaker, citing constitutional provisions on access to information, Omondi questioned the legality of the move.

“The power of the Selection Committee is to nominate members. I want to be shown the power of the Selection Committee and our standing orders to remove me from a committee.”

Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa, who chairs the Committee, explained that Omondi had not been discharged but was affected by a broader reallocation of committee slots following the by-elections that increased UDA’s numerical strength in the House.

“I did state also that following the small general election of November last year, UDA gained positions even in committees that we did not hold. This is one such committee where we are, because of the size of the committee, we have taken an extra slot in line with our standing orders on how we share positions,” he said.

Minority Leader Junet Mohamed’s statement indicated that the changes could be part of a wider adjustment affecting perceived ODM dissenters.

“But the one Honourable Caroli is talking about is coming, Mr Speaker. It’s on the way. It’s on the way. I can promise you as the leader. It’s on the way. It’s coming,” Junet said.

The changes also affected Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga, who was moved from a high-profile committee.

Ruth, who has often sided with SG Edwin Sifuna, was moved from the Agriculture Committee to the Committee on Members' Services and Facilities.

"I am serving a warning. Anyone who does not follow party position may be moved to other committee positions, so they know that it is parties which determine appointments," Junet said.

In the changes, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba was moved back to the Constitution Implementation Committee (CIOC) from the Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities, as was Marakwet MP Timothy Kipchumba, who moved to the Justice Legal Affairs Committee from the Members’ Services and Facilities Committee.