President William Ruto continued to pile more woes on Azimio La Umoja co-principals, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President (Rtd) Uhuru Kenyatta after he took control of the powerful House Business Committee.
On Tuesday, February 14, the National Assembly decided not to change the composition of its House Business Committee (HBC).
The decision gave Kenya Kwanza majority control of the committee, with four key opposition members pledging to work with the government.
Jubilee parliamentarians Adan Keynan (Eldas) and Sarah Korere (Laikipia North) led the team that shifted their alliance.
Other members of the committee who shifted their allegiance include Mandera Woman Representative Umul Ker Kassim Sheikh of the United Democratic Movement and Masinga MP Joshua Mbithi, elected as an independent member.
The HBC is one of the most powerful committees as it schedules bills tabled in Parliament.
Responsibilities of the committee
The committee prepares and adjusts the Parliamentary Calendar as they see fit.
HBC also monitors and oversees the implementation of the house business and programs and implements the Standing Orders.
It further determines the order in which the reports of committees shall be debated in the House.
Lastly, it takes decisions and issues directives and guidelines to prioritise or postpone any business of the House.
With Ruto’s side controlling the committee, political analysts argued that he may easily table any legislative agenda to aid the delivery of his manifesto. In contrast, Raila’s Azimio side may have little influence.
The House Business Committee is chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and deputised by Kimani Ichung’wa (the leader of the majority) and Opiyo Wandayi (the leader of the minority).
Other members of the committee include; Robert Mbui (Wiper), Silvanus Osoro (United Democratic Alliance – UDA), Junet Mohammed (Orange Democratic Movement – ODM), Adan Keynan (Jubilee), Chepkonga Kiprono (UDA), Milemba Omboko (Amani National Congress – ANC), Tom Kajwang (ODM), Wairimu Gitau (UDA), Sarah Korere (Jubilee), Joshua Mbithi (Independent) and Umul Ker Kassim (UDM).
