Caroli Omondi, Ruth Odinga Among Rebel ODM MPs Axed From Plum House Committees in Major Reshuffle

A reshuffle in key parliamentary committees has seen several Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members removed from their plum assignments, sparking protests from MPs who claim the changes are politically motivated.

House leadership has defended the adjustments as part of a broader effort to redistribute committee positions in line with party affiliations.

Among those affected is Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, who has been removed as chairperson of the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) and reassigned to the less influential Sports and Culture Committee.

Kitutu Chache MP Antony Kibagendi, currently suspended indefinitely from the House, has been removed from the powerful Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education and placed in the CIOC. He will be replaced by newly elected Kasipul MP Boyd Were Ong’ondo, son of the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were.

Omondi protested the reshuffle, accusing Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and his Minority counterpart Junet Mohamed of targeting him.

“They don’t want me to chair CIOC because they know I’m going to oversee elections. That’s why they don’t want me to be in that committee,” he said.

He added that he had not received any letter from Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo discharging him from the committee.

“This is a conspiracy between the Majority and Minority leaders,” Omondi said.

The legislator has been vocal in opposition politics and was recently appointed Secretary General of Azimio La Umoja. He is also aligned with the Linda Mwananchi faction of ODM linked to Senator Edwin Sifuna.

“He will leave that committee because it should be chaired by a majority side. We are a House that respects political parties. I have already engaged him, and he knows what to do,” Ichung’wah said last week.

Junet explained that the Selection Committee had reviewed committee compositions following the recent by-elections.

“When you are being discharged, you are not being taken to a departmental committee. The selection committee sat down, re-looked and made the changes. But the one Mr Caroli is talking about, of being discharged…it’s coming,” he said.

“I am serving a warning. Anyone who will not adhere to the party position will relinquish their committee positions to lesser ones, so that they know that it is parties which reward people to positions.”

Other reshuffle changes include newly elected Ugunja MP Moses Omondi replacing Butere MP Tindi Mwale as chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee; Mbeere North MP Leo Wamuthende taking over from West Pokot Woman Representative Rael Chepkemoi on the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee; and Juja MP George Koimburi moving from Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library to National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, replacing Nakuru Woman Representative Liza Chelule.

Malava MP David Ndakwa will also serve on the committee, replacing the late nominated MP Joseph Hamisi Denar.

Meanwhile, new Magarini MP Harrison Kombe replaces Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala as chairperson of the Implementation Committee.

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has been moved from the Agriculture Committee to the less influential Members’ Services and Facilities Committee.

Several allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, including Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, were also reassigned to less prominent committees.

Conversely, MPs who returned to UDA regained influential positions. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has returned to the CIOC from the Members’ Services and Facilities Committee.

Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba, an advocate of the High Court, joins the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee and the Regional Integration Committee, replacing previous members, including Kesses MP Julius Rutto. Juja MP George Koimburi was also handed two powerful committee assignments.

Further changes are expected in the Senate.