Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has been removed from the Senate Energy Committee following a fresh reconstitution of standing committees announced in the Senate on Wednesday.
The changes were communicated by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, who tabled a notice of motion seeking approval for the reshuffle of several Senate committees.
Under the proposed changes, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang will replace Sifuna in the Energy Committee, bringing to an end the Nairobi senator’s membership in one of the Senate’s key oversight committees.
While presenting the notice, Cheruiyot told the House that the changes were part of a reconstitution of standing committees.
“I rise to give notice of the following motion, which is a reconstitution of standing committees that, notwithstanding the resolution of the Senate made on February 12, 2025, is the approval of senators to serve in various committees,” Cheruiyot said.
“Pursuant to standing orders 197 and 191, the Senate approves the following senators nominated by the Senate Business Committee to serve in the standing committees of the Senate,” he added.
The Energy Committee is being led by Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga.
There are other changes in several committees besides the ones in the ICT and Energy Committees. The nominee to replace Nominated Senator Beatrice Ogolla is Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu.
Also, Garissa Senator Abdul Mohammed Haji has been nominated for a place in the Energy Committee, replacing Ogolla as Kajwang replaces him after he was moved.
However, Ogolla is now nominated for the position in the Agriculture Committee that had been vacated by Kajwang after he was transferred.
If all goes well according to parliamentary practices, the reconstitution of these committees will take effect after they are approved by the Senate.
While reconstitution is a common practice in parliaments across the world, it is possible that Sifuna’s removal might attract some media attention, especially because of the controversy raging within the ODM over the party’s political alignment.
This move takes place during a period where it is apparent that differences have arisen between the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement and the party membership associated with the breakaway Linda Mwananchi.
However, Sifuna has recently turned out to be among the loudest critics of ODM’s partnership with UDA led by President William Ruto.
Consequently, Sifuna’s demotion from the Energy Committee under the leadership of ODM party boss Oburu Odinga is expected to raise yet more political speculations, despite the fact that the Senate insists the move is in line with its usual practice.
