By Vitalis Kimutai
Kenya: Despite chairing key parliamentary committees in the National Assembly, the Cord coalition may not have full control of them since Jubilee has majority members.
A deal hammered between the two coalitions saw Cord chair the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Public Investments Committee (PIC) and broke a standoff over composition of the oversight committees, which had threatened to derail parliamentary business.
A series of meetings between Majority Leader Aden Duale and minority leader Francis Nyenze attended by whips from both coalitions arrived at a methodology to share the slots.
It followed an agreement that Cord would not only chair the key committees but would also have three more members on board. “We agreed that Jubilee would have a majority of one member in each of the committees and would also provide a vice chairperson,” Duale said.
Duale, however, was quick to note that Jubilee had not lost control of PIC and PAC, noting that it had majority of the members in the committee who would play an oversight role against the Executive. This came after a directive by House Speaker Justin Muturi to the two sides to sit down and iron out their differences.
Democracy under threat
Muturi had turned down an appeal to arbitrate on the matter, saying the ball squarely rested on leaders of the two coalitions in the House.
Jubilee has a majority of members in all the parliamentary committees and chairs almost all except PAC and PIC.
“Cord wishes to inform the public that the democracy they have for years fought for is under threat and that it will not be business as usual in Parliament until that time when Jubilee leadership realises that democracy applies to both the majority and the minority,” minority chief whip Gideon Mung’aro said recently after a Cord parliamentary group meeting chaired by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.
In the powerful PAC, Cord had its way with Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba being picked as the chairman as he trounced Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga and Suba MP John Mbadi. “Ababu worn for the simple reason that he was seen as a not very controversial MP as compared to Mbadi who is abrasive in approach to issues,” said an MP in the committee.
Initially, majority of the members appeared to favour Anyanga due to the good relationship he enjoys with MPs across the political divide owing to his diplomatic approach to matters of national importance.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan was picked as the PIC Chairman and has Kikuyu MP Anthony Kimani as his deputy.
Keynan, who was previously the vice chairman of the PSC, had an edge over the others as he had the support of leaders from Northern Kenya coupled with the fact that he is a seasoned debater in the House who does not shy away from taking on the high and mighty.
Nyenze said it was the right of Cord to chair PAC and PIC as it was in essence the opposition party in Parliament.
“One cannot expect Jubilee MPs to play an oversight role over the government formed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto. That role is the preserve of Cord,” Nyenze said.
Watchdog role
Nyenze said Cord had agreed to cede ground on the fight to control the Budget Committee but there was no way it would have been expected to give up the control of PIC and PAC as that would be asking for too much.
“This was about give and take, but there were clear boundaries of how far we could go as a coalition (Cord) on this matter. Even though the perception out there is that Jubilee has control over the key committees, the reality is different,” Nyenze said.
Deputy minority leader Jakoyo Midiwo said despite Cord having majority of the members in the key committees, Jubilee would not have its way in the committee.
“The role of the various committees is clear and we are putting them (Jubilee) on notice that we in Cord are going to play our rightful watchdog role over this government,” Midiwo said.
There was also dissent among Jubilee MPs with some going against the agreed position of fielding one candidate for each vacant position in the committees.
Despite the spat between the two sides on the floor of the House, most of the Cord MPs who wanted to chair the key committees were engaging Duale behind the scenes seeking support from the Jubilee MPs.
Duale sought after
“They saw Duale as the one who would have the final say on how the MPs voted because he represents the Jubilee leadership in the House. There were a lot of behind the scenes engagement within and outside Parliament bearing in mind that there are no Cabinet Ministers in Parliament in the current system,” said a female MP who did not want to be named.
She stated that the MPs view the committees as powerful tools to flex their muscles and chairing them would give one added advantage on visibility and fringe benefits.
The soft-spoken Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau (TNA) beat outspoken Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi (TNA) to chair the parliamentary committee on Energy, Information and Communication following such dissent witnessedduring the poll.
Picked unopposed
An earlier bid by the Jubilee Coalition to have Linturi step down for Kamau so as to have a united fighting front were unsuccessful as Linturi indicated he would go the whole hog. Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui (URP) humiliated Karachuonyo MP James Rege (ODM) to clinch the vice chairman position in the powerful committee.
Baringo North MP William Cheptumo, (URP) a former Constitutional Affairs assistant minister was picked unopposed as chairman of Delegated Legislation with Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari (TNA) as his deputy.
Former Standard Group Journalist and Lugari MP Ayub Savula (UDF) was one of the beneficiaries of the infighting among the Jubilee Coalition members who had favoured Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki (TNA).
Murang’a County women Rep Sabina Chege of TNA was elected chair of the Education Committee with Melly Kibiwott (URP) becoming her deputy.
It was an easy ride for Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat (URP) and Subukia MP Nelson Gaichuhie (TNA) who were elected unopposed as chairman and vice chairman respectively of the Finance Committee. The same applied to Tetu MP Ndung’u Githinji and Fafi’s Barre Shill (URP) in the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee.
Kuresoi North MP Moses Cheboi (Kanu) said: “All MPs irrespective of whether in the minority or majority must play an oversight role against the Executive.”
It is the same position taken by Ainabkoi MP Sammy Chepkonga who noted that the Executive no longer sits in Parliament under the new constitutional dispensation.
“MPs have to ensure that as per the rules of the House and the Constitution, anyone found to have embezzled public money is prosecuted,” Chepkonga said.
