Stalemate delays reconstitution of committees in Parliament

Parliament Session after the long recess. February 11th,2025 [Elvis Ogina, Standard] A stalemate has occurred over reconstitution of committees in the National Assembly following what is shaping out to be a protracted battle for control of key House teams. The Raila Odinga-led Azimio coalition is tussling with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance as each party claims "prestigious House committees" be they, departmental, select or general purpose. Sources said the main bone of contention was the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Finance and Planning Committees which 'govern' the government's expenditure. It emerged that Azimio was pushing for chairmanship in at least 10 committees with their focus being on the Trade and Industry, Energy, Health, labour, regional integration, Transport and finance teams. "These are some of the demands Azimio is issuing to Kenya Kwanza for them to drop their claim to majority status in the House and go slow on the rumoured impeachment motion against the Speaker," a source said. Kenya Kwanza Alliance is however keen on retaining key committees especially those dealing with budgetary allocations and finance. The stalemate has not only plunged the National Assembly into confusion but also led to drawn-out negotiations that have seen the reconstitution process delayed. The Standard has also found out that the looming purge from committees had paralysed committees' business. Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo was on Tuesday forced to wait for an hour for commencement of a committee before which he had appeared. Ultimately, the National Assembly Committee on ICT was forced to adjourn due to lack of quorum. Kabogo had appeared to deliberate on status of internet connectivity in Kiambu County's constituency innovation hubs. The lack of quorum, an MP disclosed, was linked to the state of confusion and stalemate on committee reconstitution. The situation was also the same during a sitting at the Transport Committee where only three members including the chair were present. But Speaker Moses Wetangula during Tuesday's plenary explained that consultations on committees reconstitution were ongoing. Wetangula stated that the committee on Selection is yet to finalise the reconstitution of lapsed committees, explaining that the process is still under discussion. He noted that both the Leader of the Majority Party Kimani Ichung'wah and the Leader of the Minority Party Junet Mohammed had informed him that the Committee of Selection had not yet concluded its nomination of members to the respective committees. "I have been notified by the leader of the majority party and the leader of the minority party that the Committee of selection is yet to conclude the nomination of members to the lapsed committees. The leaders note that consultations are ongoing and will be concluded soon to allow for the reconstitution of the specified committees," he observed. To ensure continuation of House business, Wetangula directed that the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) and the Medium-Term Debt Strategy, which were tabled in the House on February 13, 2025, be handled by the Liaison Committee. "Given the time-sensitive nature of these documents, the interim measure ensures that the budget process remains on track despite the pending reconstitution of committees," he directed. He further referred the Supplementary Estimates II for the 2024/2025 financial year to the Liaison Committee for consideration. At the same time, the stalemate has further been fueled by the internal strife rocking both coalitions. Sources say that within Kenya Kwanza, members from UDA, ANC, and Ford-Kenya are vying for key committee slots, similar to ODM, Wiper, and Jubilee members within Azimio who are competing for positions in the same committees.

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