Ruto’s plans for a significant purge have put several committee chairpersons in the National Assembly, particularly Ndindi Nyoro, the influential head of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, under pressure.
Reportedly, the President is making preparations for a significant shake-up in the National Assembly, with the intention of replacing defiant house committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons with reliable supporters.
Now is the time to choose Nyoro, who is currently serving his second term as the Member of Parliament for Kiharu.
Furthermore, there is a claim that the President is under pressure to reward loyalists who significantly contributed to the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, the previous Deputy President.
Members of parliament may implement changes as early as next month, before their Christmas vacation.
Unless Ruto has his trusted supporters in important house leadership posts, there are suspicions that a prospective coalition between Gachagua and certain opposition forces, such as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, might torpedo his agenda.
Many people are concerned about the future of the house due to this uncertainty.
Despite Ruto’s collaboration with the ODM party, named after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, concerns exist about a significant realignment in Gachagua’s Central Kenya territory that could potentially undermine Ruto’s objectives.
Ruto’s camp has raised reservations, necessitating a shift in allegiance among the house leadership to safeguard Kenya Kwanza’s agenda within Parliament.
Nyoro’s decision to skip the National Assembly vote on Gachagua’s impeachment, despite accusations of close ties to the previous Democratic Party, has led to significant pressure from the President’s friends.
The legislator from Kiharu, who was selected as Ruto’s running partner in advance of the general election in 2022, also disregarded the approval vote that was held in the National Assembly for Kithure Kindiki, who was vying for the position of Deputy President.
The President’s allies are now demanding Nyoro’s immediate firing, arguing that his lack of allegiance makes it impossible to trust him to successfully manage the executive branch’s budget-making process.
Geofrey Ruku, a member of parliament for Mbeere North, has revealed all about the upcoming rearrangement, stating that the government must remove committee chairpersons who are believed to be rebels. Ruku took a verbal jab at Nyoro.
“We need to clean up Parliament and the National Assembly committees, and we need leaders who can guide government policies to improve Kenyans’ lives.”
At first, Nyoro was considered Gachagua’s successor. However, he remained silent until the previous week, when he made remarks that agitated Kenya Kwanza bigwigs.
He stated that it is for Kenyans to discuss economic improvement, not for him.
“It is inappropriate for me, as the head of the National Assembly Budget Committee, to come here and convince Kenyans that the economy is expanding,” Nyoro said.
During an event that took place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Wednesday of the previous week, Nyoro said that Kenyans should be the ones to inform him that the economy is expanding.
Some others saw the statements as a jab at prominent members of the administration who were traveling around the nation to preach about the benefits of an improved economy.
On Thursday of last week, the Senate Finance Committee called Nyoro for a second appearance to discuss the allocations made to county governments.
During a point of order in the house that took place the previous week, the Majority Leader of the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, went absolutely crazy on each of the committee chairpersons.
Ichung’wah issued a warning that the purge would target chairpersons and vice chairpersons who have been missing house sittings, stating that the “impeachment season is far from over.” However, he did not cite any specific individuals.
He said, “I want to say, honorable speaker, that we have just four weeks left before a long break; these are the four weeks of reckoning. So we’re in the middle of those four weeks.”
“I want to advise committee chairs and vice chairs to take their duties seriously. I want to convey this to the chairmen from all sides of the House.
“If you are unable to fill those positions, a total of 280 other members are available to do so. If they can’t be in the House, impeach these chairs and their vice chairs. I am not advocating for the impeachment of anyone.”
Nyoro was a significant figure in the Kenya Kwanza campaigns and was instrumental in the development of the Bottom-Up Economic Model. He was also a prominent figure in the Mt. Kenya community.
After a few parliamentarians endorsed him as Ruto’s running mate in 2027, he was first associated with Gachagua’s political problems.
