Full in-tray as Parliament resumes regular sittings after long break

The Star has established that President William Ruto’s UDA and Oburu Odinga’s ODM are plotting a major purge of errant committee members as Parliament resumes plenary sessions this week.

The move is expected to rein in dissenting members while consolidating the emerging broad-based political arrangement between the two parties.

The planned shake-up is expected to dominate the opening days of the session and is aimed at disciplining MPs who defied party positions during recent by-elections.

Legislators, returning on Tuesday after a long break, for the Fifth Session of the 13^th Parliament, have a packed legislative and political agenda expected to test party discipline and reshape power dynamics in both Houses.

Atop the agenda are de-whipping renegade lawmakers from influential committee positions, consideration of key budgetary documents and approval of far-reaching infrastructure financing proposals.

Legislators will also deliberate on the sale of 15 per cent of government shares in Safaricom and electoral reforms linked to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.

The lawmakers will also vet the nomination of Ida Odinga as Kenya’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Politics first. Squarely in the crosshairs are those perceived to be opposed to the evolving UDA-ODM pre-election pact.

The House leadership will use the reorganisation to reassert authority over rebellious legislators while creating room for six newly elected MPs.

In the National Assembly, the purge is expected to hit Bumula MP Jack Wanami Mwaboka, the chairman of the powerful Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance. His deputy, Kitutu Chache MP Anthony Kibagendi, is also expected to lose his position.

The duo has been vocal critics of President Ruto and the broad-based government arrangement.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi is similarly facing sanctions from ODM. Party insiders say he could be removed as vice-chairman of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services after openly campaigning for DAP-K candidate Seth Panyako.

Amisi’s actions during the by-elections on November 27 ran contrary to ODM’s official endorsements under the broad-based coalition.

Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gesairo is expected to be dropped from the Education Committee.

Borabu MP Patrick Onserio is also likely to lose his slots in the influential Education and Research committees.

The is expected to be demoted and reassigned to the Members’ Facilities and Services Committee, popularly known as the Catering Committee.

The move is considered an unmistakable political downgrading and punishment. Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga is also under scrutiny.

He is likely to be removed from Kenya’s delegation to the Pan-African Parliament and stripped of key committee assignments.

Kalasinga is accused of financing and backing independent candidate Chris Wekesa in the Chwele-Kabuchai ward by-election. Wekesa defeated Ford Kenya’s Vincent Maundu, the preferred candidate of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

The disciplinary net is also expected to snare Parliamentary Service Commission members Nyali MP Mohamed Ali and Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni.

The two are said to have led campaigns against their parties’ endorsed candidates in Magarini and Nyamira counties.

The two parties’ leadership views their actions as direct affronts to party unity.

In the Senate, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna could also face sanctions. Sifuna, who is also the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, has been outspoken against his ODM party’s decision to support President Ruto.

The payback will be followed by intense legislative work.

Last week, Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye led a one-day retreat for Senate staff ahead of the busy period. He urged staff to remain focused and adaptable as Parliament resumes its constitutional responsibilities.

“I encourage you to remain resilient, energised and fully adaptable in your service to the people of Kenya,” Nyegenye said.

Both Houses will consider the 2026 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) and the Debt Management Strategy (DMS).

The National Treasury is required to submit the two documents to Parliament by February 15.

The BPS outlines the state of the economy, the medium-term fiscal outlook, and proposed expenditure priorities. It also sets out indicative allocations for county governments.

The DMS details Kenya’s debt profile, borrowing strategy, government guarantees and an assessment of debt sustainability.

Once approved, the documents will form the basis of the Division of Revenue Bill. That  legislation determines how revenue is shared between the national and county governments.

Thereafter, the Senate will determine allocations for each county through the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2026.

The Senate will also consider the County Governments' Additional Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2026, and related disbursement schedules.

The heavy Senate workload includes 63 bills pending conclusion.

Of these, 18 are at the Committee of the Whole stage, 42 are at second reading, and three await first reading.

Several motions on select committee reports that lapsed at the end of the Fourth Session must be reintroduced. These include the Mediation Committee report on the Coffee Bill.

Motions on petitions, inquiries, and county oversight visits are also pending. At least 19 petitions are before Senate committees.

The Senate is also expected to conclude consideration of the Auditor General’s reports on counties financial problems by March 31.

A Senate technical report warns the 2027 election year may disrupt the budget calendar. “With 2027 being an election year, heightened political activity may necessitate reorganisation of the budget calendar,” the report read.

In the National Assembly, Speaker Wetang’ula has cautioned MPs against actions that could delay resource allocation to counties. He warned that oversight lapses often result in stalled or reduced disbursements.

“I urge Parliament to ensure we are not the cause of delayed allocation of resources to counties,” Wetang’ula said during the MPs’ retreat in Naivasha.

The House will also consider the government’s proposal to partially divest itself of its stake in Safaricom PLC in order to raise revenue. The plan seeks approval for the sale of 15 per cent of government shares to Vodacom Group.

The transaction is expected to raise about $1.57 billion in non-tax revenue. The funds are earmarked for major infrastructure projects in roads, water and energy.

If approved, government ownership in Safaricom would reduce from 35 per cent to 20 per cent.

Another major agenda item is the proposed establishment of a National Infrastructure Fund and a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

The proposed framework aims to attract large-scale private capital while reducing reliance on public borrowing. The funds are designed to support priority projects in food security, transport, logistics and energy.

Planned investments include large-scale irrigation schemes, the dualling of 2,500 kilometres of highways and extension of the standard gauge railway.

Energy plans include adding at least 10,000MW from renewable and nuclear sources. Energy and natural resource matters will also feature prominently.

Parliament will consider the Field Development Plan and Production Sharing Contracts for oil blocks T6 and T7 in Turkana county. The agreements between the government and Gulf Energy require parliamentary ratification.

Public participation is currently underway in both Houses. If approved, the projects are expected to reduce reliance on imported oil and ease fuel prices over the long term.