Kenya Kwanza, Azimio stalemate over Budget committee
The situation National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula found himself in when he was required to guide the country on the majority side in the House is not unique in the history of Parliament.
The processing of the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) 2025 and the supplementary budget II for the financial year 2023/25 faces threats following protracted war between President William Ruto and Mr Raila Odinga’s parties that has delayed reconstitution of committees.
The reconstitution of the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) of the National Assembly is critical in the processing of the BPS that has timelines.
Yesterday National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula told the majority and minority leadership in the House that fast-tracking the reconstitution of the committees was critical.
“I have been notified by the leader of the majority party and the leader of the minority party that the Committee on Selection is yet to conclude the nomination of members to the lapsed committees,” said Speaker Wetang’ula.
The BPS and the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDMS), were tabled in the House on February 13, 2025.
BAC and Public Debt and Privatisation Committee are among the 18 House committees save for the 20 departmental committees that had lapsed and therefore require reconstitution.
“Given the time-sensitive nature of these documents, the interim measure ensures that the budget process remains on track despite the pending reconstitution of committees,” Speaker Wetangula notified the House.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula in a communication to the House, ruled Kenya Kwanza the majority side in the National Assembly with 165 MPs and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition the minority with 154 MPs.
Although the respective departmental committees are intact and will process the BPS, the law requires them to feed into the BAC via recommendations which then recommends to the National Treasury in a report to the House.
But it is not clear why Speaker Wetang’ula directed that the BPS be handled by the Liaison Committee, which is composed of all the chairs of the House Committees save for those chaired by the Speaker.
The Public Debt and Privatisation Committee is critical in processing the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDMS) that informs the country’s budget-making, specifically the aspect of borrowing to finance the government’s expenditure projections.
“The leaders note that consultations are ongoing and will be concluded soon to allow for the reconstitution of the specified committees,” Speaker Wetang’ula added.
But even as Speaker Wetang’ula urged the House, Nation has established that a protracted power struggle between President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza and Opposition Chief Raila Odinga’s Azimio over control of key parliamentary committees has stalled the reconstitution of the House committees.
At the heart of the impasse is the BAC and the Finance and National Planning, which the two sides view as critical in influencing government spending and monetary policies.
This even as it emerged that Kenya Kwanza is considering having Azimio MPs chair BAC, Finance and National Planning Committee and Health.
However, Azimio wants the leadership of Transport and Energy committees.
Horse-trading
By yesterday, horse-trading was ongoing between the two major coalitions in the House.
Last week, Speaker Wetang’ula ruled that Kenya Kwanza is the majority side with 165 MPs with Azimio at 154 MPs.
It is this majority in the House that Kenya Kwanza is leveraging on to push to retain control over the much sought-after committees.
This standoff has led to prolonged negotiations and by press time yesterday, there was no clear resolution in sight.
Leader of majority Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu) and his minority colleague Junet Mohamed (Suna East) were not available for comments on the impasse.
However, a member of Azimio who did not want to go on record said that Kenya Kwanza is the biggest hindrance to an amicable solution.
“With the mentality Kenya Kwanza leadership is exhibiting, we may not get out of these squabbles,” the MP said.
Beyond the battle for control, the two coalitions are also driven by competing legislative priorities.
Kenya Kwanza wants committees structured in a way that ensures the seamless implementation of government policies, while Azimio insists on strengthening oversight mechanisms to keep the executive in check.
Adding to the complexity, both coalitions are grappling with internal divisions. Within Kenya Kwanza, members from UDA, ANC, and Ford-Kenya want to chair the committees just as ODM, Wiper, and Jubilee members within Azimio are competing for the positions.