- On Tuesday, the legislators will consider proposed names of members to sit in the Senate Business Committee.
- The panel, chaired by Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, schedules the business for the House.
Image: EZEKIEL AMINGA
A showdown looms in Senate over the reconstitution of three key committees, including the panel that oversees billions of shillings sent to the counties.
The senators resumed sittings after a two-month long recess, with the formation of the vital committees forming the first business of the House.
On Tuesday, the legislators will consider proposed names of members to sit in the Senate Business Committee.
The panel, chaired by Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, schedules the business for the House.
It comprises of majority and minority leaders and seven other members approved by the House.
“We cannot conduct any business without the constitution of the Senate Business Committee. That is why it has to form first agenda,” Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio said.
According to the order paper for Tuesday, Senators Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi) and Beatrice Kwamboka (nominated) have been picked by the leadership to sit in the committee.
Others are Gideon Moi (Baringo), Sakaja Johnson (Nairobi), Charles Kibiru (Kirinyaga) and Ledama Olekina (Narok).
Soon after the approval of the members to the SBC, the House will embark on reconstitution of the Delegated Legislation and the County Public Accounts and Investments Committees.
While the Delegated Legislation’s key role is to approve statutory instruments such as legal notice, CPAIC scrutinises the expenditures of billions in county government.
“Formation of sessional committees will also be immediate because this session is very short,” Poghisio told the Star.
CPAIC is seen as the face of Senate with almost every senator angling to sit in the nine-member panel.
While the majority and minority leaders and whips will be tasked to propose names to the panel presumably after consulting their members, the debate on the approval of the names will likely be emotive.
It could pit senators allied to the handshake partners against those leaning towards Deputy President William Ruto.
On Monday, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, an ally of the DP, appeared to set the tempo for the debate, saying they will only accept ‘a balanced list.’
“We need people who will scrunitise those books and ask the hard questions. During this time of transition, many governors are likely to embezzle public funds. That is why CPACI must be thorough,” he said.
Migori Senator Ochillo Ayacko is the immediate former chairman of the panel. Ayacko’s term ended on December 2, last year. He had succeeded Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri.
Besides the formation of the panels, there are several bills lined-up for consideration by the senators, before the lawmakers break for campaigns and August general election.
They include the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) Bill, 2021 that seeks to end Kemsa’s monopoly in the supply of medicine.
Also, the Elections (Amendments) Bill, 2021 that seeks to scrap education requirement for MPs and MCAs seeking elective seats in the upcoming election.
Others are the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill that seeks to split Kitui county into two and the Intergovernmental Relations (Amendments) Bill that aims to streamline the transfer functions between the two levels of government.
The House will also consider the Division of Revenue Bill and the County Allocation of Revenue Bill to allow the devolved units get funds from the national treasury in the next financial year.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)