Parliament prepares for reconstitution of key committees

This comes amid fears that MPs who are considered to be supporters of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua could be locked out from some of the powerful committees.

Among committees whose term has expired include the House Business Committee, Powers and Privileges, Welfare committees among others.

Following the expiry of their term, the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula has directed the leaders of Majority and minority to reconstitute the committees before parliament resumes next month.

Speaking during a retreat in Naivasha, Wetangula was quick to note that his office was not involved in the constitution of the committees. 

He said the term limit of eighteen key committees has expired and its time that they were reconstituted and members should not come to my office seeking intervention as this doesn’t fall under him.

The Speaker expressed fears that some MPs could be locked out while calling leaders of the majority and minority to choose credible leaders in the committees.

Wetangula at the same time lauded the move to gazette Independent Electoral and Boundaries Committee selection panel noting that a lot of time had lost even as the country geared towards the general elections.

He noted that once in office, the new commissioners would have a lot on their table including boundaries review and conducting by-elections for four constituencies.

Wetangula revisited the issue of NG-CDF which was declared as illegal by the High Court adding that parliament has since appealed against the decision.

As they wait for the court decision, he asked members to start exploring alternative options, as NG-CDF has come in handy to voter mainly through bursary and capital projects.

He lauded the work done by the assembly despite emerging challenges from last year’s demonstration and invasion of parliament by Gen-Z.

On fake news including recent reports that we lost an MP last week has affected provision of service but we are keen to stop this though technology and provision of information.

On his part, the leader of the Majority Kimani Ichung’wah hit out at MPs who were discussing parliamentary issues in funerals and public barazas instead of raising them on the floor.

He said that the 13th parliament had achieved a lot including passing various bills despite Senate trying to usurp their role by discussing issues meant for National Assembly.

Minority leader Junet Mohammed on the other hand identified public participation as one of the major challenges that had faced the current parliament leading to several court cases.

He said they are aware that the term limit for 18 committees has come to an end and  have started to reconstitute the membership so that we don't have a lapse when parliament resumes. 

Others who spoke were the Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge who said thar a total of 149 bills had been tabled in parliament and 17 ascended into law.