Deputy President William Samoei Ruto has sent a strong message to Members of Parliament, a day after conclusion of changes in Parliamentary leadership including committee membership and leadership.

Taking to his official twitter account on Thursday July 16, 2020, the second in command urged the lawmakers to unite and work together.

He told them not to be divided but put their hands together in serving the people of Kenya.

DP Ruto went ahead to dedicate a biblical scripture to the lawmakers, quoting Colosians 3:23, which says, “Whatever you do,work at it with all your heart, as working for God,not human master.”

“With the changes in Parliamentary leadership including committee membership & leadership now concluded, I urge all MPs NOT to be divided but work TOGETHER in serving the PEOPLE. Col.3:23, Whatever you do,work at it with all your heart, as working for God,not human master,” he tweeted.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have tightened their grip on five parliamentary committees crucial for constitutional reforms and approval of Cabinet appointments.

The two party leaders packed the committees with their loyalists, completing a purge that saw allies of Deputy President William Ruto moved to less influential ones.

Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), Committee on Appointments, Budget and Appropriations, Finance and Delegated Legislation play important roles in the envisaged reforms the two leaders seek under the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

And the anticipated Cabinet and Principal Secretary appointments to cement agreements the Jubilee Party struck with opposition outfits including Kanu, Wiper, Chama Cha Mashinani, as well as another envisaged with ODM, explains the reconstitution of the committee that vets the nominees.

The Kieleweke camp comprising supporters of President Kenyatta and Raila has since tipped MP Muturi Kigano (Kangema) to chair JLAC, Kanini Kega (Kieni) to chair Budget, Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) to chair Finance and William Kamket of Tiaty to chair Delegated Legislation.

Committee on Appointment is chaired by Speaker Justin Muturi. Muturi and the four MPs set to take up the leadership of the committees are all allied to Uhuru and Raila.

The committees are set to hold elections for chairperson and vice chairperson positions today and tomorrow.

The leadership and membership of four of the committees was previously in the control of MPs allied to Ruto and who are accused of fighting the BBI project. 

Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wa who was recently de-whipped from the lucrative Budget and Appropriations Committee has been slotted in the Member Services Committee, previously known as the Catering Committee.

Ichung’wa is among the 16 MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto, who were axed from the leadership of key House committees in the purge orchestrated by President Uhuru Kenyatta, as he sought to wrestle control of Parliament from his number two.

The second-time Kikuyu lawmaker welcomed his inclusion into the Member Services and Facilities Committee, though seen as a demotion from the influential Budget Committee.