Jubilee Party Drama Continues As Ruto Allies Axed From Key Committee Positions

Senators James Orengo (left) and Kipchumba Murkomen (right) after attending a Senate session in 2019
Senators James Orengo (left) and Kipchumba Murkomen (right) after attending a Senate session in 2019
File

In yet another move aimed at 'enforcing discipline', the Jubilee purge continued on Tuesday, May 26, with the party announcing changes which appear to push out lawmakers aligned to the Deputy President William Ruto from key positions.

Jubilee party notified the Senate Speaker that former Deputy Speaker Kindiki Kithure (Tharaka-Nithi) and ousted Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo-Marakwet) have been named to seat in the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) and the Devolution Committee respectively. 

Murkomen replaces Laikipia Senator, John Kinyua who has been moved to ICT Committee to replace West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio who vacated the seat after being named Senate Majority Leader. 

Tharaka Nithi Senator Kindiki Kithure (left) with Deputy President William Ruto (right) after attending a conference in 2019
Tharaka Nithi Senator Kindiki Kithure (left) with Deputy President William Ruto (right) after attending a conference in 2019
File

"The effect of this will be that Senator Kinyua will cease being Devolution Committee Chairman and Senator Linturi will no longer be a Public Accounts Committee member and Vice-Chair of legal. 

"Senator Langat will cease from being Chairman of Education while Senator Cherargey will cease from being Chairman of the Legal Committee," Kang'ata said.  

In the new changes, Bomet Senator Christopher Lang’at who chairs the Education Committee has been replaced at the Senate Business Committee by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and Laikipia Senator John Kinyua lost the chairmanships of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee and Devolution Committee respectively after they were moved. 

In the Powers and Privileges Committee, Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata replaced Nandi's Samson Cherargey.

The affected committees are therefore required to hold elections to fill the chairmanship seats left vacant. 

Last week, seven Ruto allies, all Jubilee members, voted to save the Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, with an overwhelming majority of 54 senators endorsing his removal. 

Kangata added that, “we shall not undertake ethnic profiling, hence some of those that voted against [the motion] may survive. We don’t’ intend for example to recall our PSC (Parliamentary Service Commission) commissioner. But some will definitely face the sanctions.”

Watch the Jubilee Party's press briefing below: 

Video: NTV 

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