UPDATE Thursday, July 9 18.00 P.M: Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed arrived in Dubai.
They are expected to visit Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga who is recuperating following his surgery.
Their visit came amid anticipation of Odinga's return to the country to spearhead the anticipated referendum on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed left Kenya for Dubai in a private jet on Thursday, July 9.
Joho, who is also the deputy party leader of ODM, and Junet were headed to visit ODM Party leader Raila Odinga who has been recovering following a minor surgery.
Photos of the sleek private jet which the duo shared on social media caught the eye of many Kenyans, sparking various reactions including jokes that it marked the resumption of international air travel following the Covid-19 pandemic.
ODM had sought to calm swirling speculation on Raila's health condition before a video shared by his daughter, Winnie Odinga on Wednesday, July 1, confirmed that he was active and recuperating well.
In the video, Odinga hinted at a return to the reggae dances that characterised Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rallies before the pandemic hit.
The BBI and an expected referendum, which has been cited as one of the key reasons for shake-ups in Parliamentary leadership, are likely to feature in discussions as Joho and Junet make the trip.
Tensions have also between Jubilee and ODM over the sharing of house committee positions, with Jubilee Vice Chair David Murathe allegedly stating that ODM could walk out of the handshake if they wanted to.
A meeting between National Assembly Minority Whip Junet and Majority Leader Amos Kimunya on Tuesday, July 7, helped iron out discontent over a list of MPs to replace ousted leaders in various committees.
The meeting, which lasted five hours, settled the squabble perceived as a threat to the now-famous March 9, 2018 handshake.
In the list agreed upon by Junet and Kimunya, ODM will chair the Education, Finance and Planning and Library committees. It was also designated the Vice-Chair's seats on the Legal Affairs and Constitution Implementation Oversight committees.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo is expected to become the Vice-Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee while Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma is likely to be the Vice-Chair of the Constitution Implementation Oversight committee.
In the talks that involved parties now working with the ruling Jubilee Party, the Kalonzo Musyoka-led Wiper was designated the Sports, Culture and Tourism committee to be chaired by Mavoko MP Patrick Makau.
Wiper is yet to name the vice-chair for the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity committee which it was also allocated, with the committee being chaired by Nominated MP Maina Kamanda.
