ODM lawmakers who oppose the broad-based government lost their influential committee slots on Tuesday after party leaders reshuffled positions in the National Assembly. The leadership removed them from powerful committees and reassigned them to less influential ones, as the pro-government faction asserted control.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi lost his seat on the influential Constitution Implementation and Oversight Committee. Party leaders replaced him with Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, who recently shifted her support to the broad-based government.
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The shake-up came as the ODM faction aligned with the broad-based political arrangement made its first decisive move in the ongoing power struggle.
In the reorganization, leaders also removed Omondi, who was recently declared secretary general of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, from the Constitution Implementation and Oversight Committee, where he had been serving as chairperson.
The latest purge also swept up other ODM lawmakers. Leaders removed Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga from the Agriculture Committee and reassigned her to the less influential Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities.
Ruth, sister to former ODM party leader the late Raila Odinga, has stood out as a vocal critic of the broad-based government. She has openly defended embattled Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and repeatedly challenged the party’s new political direction.
Through the changes, House leadership sent a clear warning that it would not tolerate dissent within party ranks.
“I wish I [could] go back as a whip; I used to be dangerous. Those people playing with the party, ningenyoa hao bila maji,” stated Junet Mohammed, Minority Leader, National Assembly.
“Caroli Omondi went on national TV and threatened this house that we wanted to remove him. I have no interest in ODM,” stated Kimani Ichung’wah, majority leader, National Assembly.
The internal “fumigation” also hit Kitutu Chache South MP Antony Kibagendi. Party leaders removed him from the powerful Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education and replaced him with first-term Kasipul MP Boyd Were. The leadership signaled that the reshuffle marked only the opening salvo.
“I am serving a warning. Anyone who will not adhere to party positions will relinquish their committee positions to lesser ones so that they know that it is parties which reward people to positions,” Junet noted.
The reshuffle also targeted several allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Leaders removed Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara from her previous assignment and reassigned her to the Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities.
In contrast, MPs who recently rejoined UDA walked away with major wins. The party reinstated them to influential committees after previously sidelining them to what many viewed as punishment dockets.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba returned to the Constitution Implementation and Oversight Committee (CIOC) after serving on the Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities.
Marakwet MP Timothy Kipchumba also secured a strategic slot, moving to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee from the Members’ Services and Facilities Committee.
Juja MP George Koimburi, who recently parted ways with Gachagua, received two equally influential committee assignments.
Sources indicate that Senate leaders could announce further changes in the coming days.
