Deputy President William Ruto’s allies in the Senate have lost key positions in House committees in the ongoing Jubilee Party purge.
In changes announced by Majority Whip and Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata on Tuesday, the allies of the Deputy President, who have been termed rebels, have been removed from committee chairmanship posts.
Bomet Senator Christopher Lang’at has been removed from the House Business Committee and replaced by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, who is seen as an ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta, the party leader. He was also ousted as Senate Education Committee chairmanship, a position taken by Nominated Senator Alice Milgo.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei lost the position of chairman of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee as did Meru Senator Mithika Linturi at the influential Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee.
Linturi was replaced by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.
Laikipia Senator John Kinyua was removed as the chairman of the Devolution Committee, while ousted Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen will join the committee as a member.
Other Ruto allies who have lost their positions include Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki (Deputy Speaker-Senate) and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika (Majority Whip)
They were accused of disrespecting the party leader, President Uhuru Kenyatta, after thet snubbed a Jubilee Parliamentary Group meeting at State House to effect changes n the Senate leadership in Which Senator Samel Poghisio replaced Murkomen, while Kang’ata replaced Kihika.
