Allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the Senate have been axed from chairperson slots of powerful committees and placed on less influential ones as the purge in Parliament gets underway.
Senators Joe Nyutu (Murang'a), Karungo wa Thang'wa (Kiambu), James Murango (Kirinyaga), John Methu (Nyandarua) and Kanar Seki (Kajiado) are considered to be the first victims of the parliamentary purge targeting Mr Gachagua's allies.
The five, who were chairpersons of various lucrative committees in the last session, have now all borne the brunt and have been moved to less prominent teams where they will now serve as ordinary members.
In the last session, Mr Nyutu chaired the Education Committee, Mr Methu led the Land and Environment team, while Mr Thang'wa was in charge of the powerful Roads, Transport and Housing Committee. On his part, Mr Seki chaired Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism team while Mr Murango headed the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries committee.
Senator Thang'wa said on his Facebook page that he was not surprised by the move as he knew the purge was coming.
"I knew it would happen. I expected it. The purge has taken place. I take it like a man and vow to soldier on unbowed," Senator Thang'wa wrote.
He added: "I sincerely thank the Yellow Party (UDA) for clearing my schedule. Chairing the Roads and Transport Committee in the Senate was great, but I guess progress was just too much to handle."
"Now, with no shackles on my hands, it's time to inject properly, without speed bumps, I continue to serve the nation and the people with my head held high," he said.
In the newly reconstituted committees, Senator Thang'wa has been placed on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations and Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism.
Senator Nyutu will now sit on the Procedure and Rules and Land, Environment and Natural Resources Committees, while Senator Murango will sit on the Education and Land, Environment and Natural Resources Committees.
The new changes will see Senator Seki sit on the Education and Labour and Social Welfare Committees while Senator Methu will now be a member of the Education and Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism Committees.
The five lawmakers now join Laikipia Senator John Kinyua, who was removed from the powerful Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) and replaced by Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatangi.
Those targeted in the purge in both the National Assembly and Senate voted in favour of Mr Gachagua in last October’s impeachment motion and have continued to associate with him even after the fallout with President William Ruto.
The Standing Orders stipulate that a senator must be a member of at least one committee in order to fulfil his oversight role.
The purge in the National Assembly is expected next week when the majority and minority leaders submit the list of members of the 18 portfolio committees whose terms expired on Tuesday, February 11 and need to be reconstituted.
Until the morning of Thursday, February 13, there was still intense lobbying by MPs eyeing various lucrative committees.
Minority leader Junet Mohamed said the Budget and Appropriations, Roads, Energy and Finance and National Planning committees had attracted a large number of MPs who had expressed interest in serving on them.
"We are trying to strike a balance to accommodate everyone," Mr Mohamed said.
Among the teams whose terms have come to an end are the sessional committees, which include the House Business Committee (HBC), the Powers and Privileges Committee, the Procedure and House Rules Committee and the Members' Services and Facilities Committee.
Others are 15 appropriation and general purpose committees, including Public Accounts Committees (PAC), Budget and Appropriations Committee, Public Debt and Privatisation Committee.
There are also the Committee on Public Petitions, the Committee on Implementation, the Committee on Delegated Legislation, the Committee on Regional Integration and the Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, among others.
During the just-concluded mid-term retreat of MPs in Naivasha, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula urged Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and Mr Mohamed to ensure fairness and inclusiveness while focusing on the expertise and contributions of individual members to maximise the productivity of the House while making the changes.
"I hereby instruct the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader to begin in earnest to reconstitute the 18 committees whose lives were cut short by the last session," Mr Wetang'ula said.
