Several Members of Parliament who have recently aligned themselves with the opposition's Linda Mwananchi movement have lost influential positions in parliamentary committees following a major reshuffle approved by the National Assembly, raising fresh questions over whether the changes were purely administrative or politically motivated.
The committee changes, approved by the House on the recommendation of the Committee on Selection, affected some of Parliament's most influential oversight and departmental committees, including Finance and National Planning, Constitutional Implementation Oversight, Public Investments on Governance and Education, Regional Development and Education.
Officially, Parliament says the exercise was intended to accommodate newly elected MPs following recent by-elections.
In a statement, the National Assembly said the changes were made "following changes approved by the Committee on Selection pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 175 of the National Assembly Standing Orders."
It added that "Standing Order 175 mandates the Committee on Selection to nominate Members to serve in Committees of the House and present the proposed changes for approval by the House."
Parliament further explained that "the reconstitution exercise was aimed at realigning Committee membership and accommodating newly elected Members of Parliament who recently joined the 13th Parliament after emerging victorious in various by-elections."
However, beyond accommodating the new MPs, the reshuffle also displaced several legislators who have in recent months emerged among President William Ruto's fiercest critics.
Among them is Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, who lost her seat in the powerful Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning after being replaced by Betty Njeri Maina. Ms Wamuchomba was instead moved out of the committee and later replaced in the Regional Development Committee by newly elected Emurua Dikirr MP David Kipsang Keter.
The Finance Committee is one of the most influential in Parliament. It scrutinises the national budget, tax proposals, borrowing plans, the Finance Bill and economic policies before they are debated by the House. Membership often gives MPs considerable influence over the country's fiscal direction.
Ms Wamuchomba has become one of the most vocal critics of the Kenya Kwanza administration and has repeatedly appeared at Linda Mwananchi rallies alongside opposition leaders calling for a united front against President Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Manyatta MP John Gitonga Mukunji also lost his place in the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee, which monitors implementation of the Constitution and compliance by State institutions. He was moved to the Members' Services and Facilities Committee, with Teresia Wanjiru Mwangi taking his place.
Mr Mukunji has also featured prominently in opposition activities and has been among lawmakers associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement.
Bumula MP Jack Wamboka was removed from the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education and transferred to the Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity.
The Public Investments Committee plays a key oversight role by examining how public institutions and State corporations spend taxpayers' money and whether government agencies are delivering value for public resources.
Dick Maungu Oyugi was also moved from the National Cohesion Committee to the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education before Harrison Garama Kombe replaced him in the Education Committee.
While the changes affected some opposition-leaning MPs, Parliament maintained that the exercise was largely to accommodate legislators elected through recent by-elections.
Among those benefiting from the reshuffle was Emurua Dikirr MP David Kipsang Keter, who secured seats in both the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee and the Departmental Committee on Regional Development.
Garsen MP Mohamed Tubi also joined two committees, replacing Joseph Kipkosgei Tonui in the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education and later taking his place in the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation.
Joseph Kipkosgei Tonui was moved to the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works to fill the vacancy left by the late Johana Ng'eno, while Betty Njeri Maina joined the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure following the death of former Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho.
The reshuffle comes against the backdrop of growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Linda Mwananchi movement, championed by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and supported by leaders including Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, has intensified campaigns to unite opposition parties against President Ruto's re-election bid.
In recent weeks, several lawmakers linked to the movement have complained of being sidelined within parliamentary structures, arguing that committee changes are increasingly being used to discipline members perceived to be sympathetic to the opposition.
Neither the Committee on Selection nor the National Assembly linked the latest changes to political affiliations. Instead, Parliament insisted the exercise was undertaken in line with Standing Order 175 to realign committee membership and accommodate newly elected MPs.
Even so, the removal of some of the government's outspoken critics from influential oversight committees is likely to intensify debate over the role committee assignments play in Kenya's evolving political contest ahead of the 2027 polls.
