Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition has withdrawn its members from the National Assembly House Business Committee, which is likely to hamper the activities of the house.
The pronouncement by the Azimio Coalition came before they walked out in protest of a decision by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula declaring Kenya Kwanza the majority party in the National Assembly.
The Azimio Coalition leaders, led by Junet Mohamed, the current Minority Leader, said they will be withdrawing their members from all-powerful committees.
One of those committees is the House Business Committee (HBC). This is a crucial committee within the National Assembly tasked with organising and managing the legislative agenda.
“I have been asked to convey to you on the floor of the House that we have withdrawn our members from the House Business Committee,” Junet said. However, according to Speaker Wetang’ula and the Majority Kimani Ichung’wah, the move will not stop the committee from transacting.
Junet issued a warning to the House, which had begun discussing the composition of the powerful committee, that passing the names of the Azimio members proposed for the committee is ‘nullifying’.
Some of those proposed to reconstitute the committee are Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Francis Kajwang’ (Ruaraka), Umul Ker Kassim Sheikh (Mandera), and Joshua Mbithi Mwalyo (Masinga), all allied to Azimio.
From the Kenya Kwanza side, Faith Wairimu Gitau (Nyandarua Women Rep), Samuel K. Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), Adan Wehliye Keynan (Eldas), Omboko Milemba (Emuhaya), and Sarah Paulata Korere (Laikipia).
The House ignored the warning and passed the names to join the committee. While speaking before the vote, Ichung’wah said, “The House Business Committee is properly constituted, and with or without the four members of Azimio, the House Business Committee will sit.”
On his part, Wetang’ula launched a scathing criticism of the minority side, saying, “We have a greater duty to the people of Kenya, the shenanigans we want to display here.”
The House Business Committee is chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Leader Majority and Minority, as well as the Majority and Minority Whips. The committee has other members drawn from the House, with Azimio getting four seats.
Its primary responsibilities include scheduling house business. It plans and schedules the calendar of the House. The committee also monitors and oversees the implementation of the House’s business and programmes, ensuring that decisions are executed as planned.
The committee further adjusts the parliamentary calendar. With the House’s approval, the House Business Committee can prepare and, if necessary, adjust the parliamentary calendar to accommodate emerging priorities or changes.
The committee will have its first sitting today as the House prepares for the submission of the Budget Policy Statement. The Budget Policy Statement must be tabled by tomorrow, as the statutory deadline is Saturday when the House does not sit.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed during a retreat in Naivasha, January 30, 2025.
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