Africa-Press – Kenya. The National Assembly has named six lawmakers to chair plenary sittings and Committees of the whole House in the absence of Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and deputy speaker Gladys Boss.
The list of Chairperson of Committees has a mix of lawmakers aligned with the United Democratic Alliance and the opposition.
National Assembly Standing Orders state that the reference to the Chairperson of Committees includes the Speaker when presiding over a Committee of the whole House or any other Member for the time being so presiding.
That would be the case of Gilgil MP Martha Wangari who has been named as the First Chairperson of Committees.
Also on the list are Ugenya MP David Ochieng, Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, Daadab’s Farah Maalim, Peter Kaluma of Homa Bay Town, Chairperson of Committees; and Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai in the respective order.
The First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Chairpersons of Committees are entitled to exercise all the powers vested in the Chairperson of Committees.
Wangari defended her seat on UDA while Ochieng joined the Ruto team after the August 9 election.
His party Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) was among those that Speaker Wetang’ula cited in affirming Kenya Kwanza as the majority side.
Milemba, who is also the Kuppet secretary-general is a close ally of Musalia Mudavadi and is among the key pillars of Kenya Kwanza in Western.
Farah unsuccessfully ran against Shollei for deputy speaker in the recent vote. He was deputy speaker of the 10th Parliament under Kenneth Marende.
He made a comeback to the August House in the recent election on a Wiper ticket.
Kaluma is serving a third term in the National Assembly. He retained his seat through ODM.
Nyamai is also serving a third term as Kitui South MP. She beat the Wiper wave to retain her seat on a Jubilee ticket
In the last Parliament, the panel had now former MPs Chris Omulele, Patrick Mariru, Kibwezi East’s Jessica Mbalu and Environment CS nominee Soipan Tuya.
The last Parliament changed the Standing Orders to increase the positions to six.
The office comes with extra perks in responsibility allowances.
Parliament is expected to debate and approve the names on Wednesday afternoon.
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