Ndindi Nyoro dropped as member of Budget Committee in House shake-up

The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has dropped Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro as a member of the influential House Budget and Appropriations Committee and reassigned him to the Committee on Migration.

Nyoro, a once-powerful figure within the ruling party and a vocal ally of President William Ruto, had chaired the Budget Committee for more than two years.

His removal marks a notable shift in his political fortunes, as he is replaced by Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo.

This comes after Nyoro was earlier ousted from the chairmanship of the same committee, a position that went to Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi.

Sources in Parliament suggested that Nyoro’s neutral stance during the controversial 2024 impeachment vote of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua may have contributed to his sidelining.

Unlike most of his colleagues, Nyoro did not cast a vote during the proceedings, an act some within the party viewed as disloyalty.

More recently, Nyoro has also been openly critical of several government policies.

The Budget Committee, considered one of the most powerful in Parliament, controls key decisions on national expenditure and resource allocation.

Under parliamentary standing orders, it is chaired by a member of the majority party and comprises no more than 50 MPs.

The latest changes affected multiple House committees.

At the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation, Lamu West MP Stanley Muthama was replaced by Njoro MP Charity Kathambi. Additionally, Joyce Bensouda was appointed to fill the seat left vacant by the late Charles

Ong’ondo Were, who was tragically shot dead on April 30 while waiting at a traffic light on Ngong Road, Nairobi.

At the Departmental Committee on Labour, Njoroge Mary Wamaua replaced Chelule Liza Chepkorir while in Departmental Committee on Regional Development, Chelule Liza Chepkorir moved to replace Mary Emaase.

In the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife, Leah Sopiato Sankaire replaced Edwin Mugo.

In the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, John Okano Bwire was appointed to take over the slot previously held by Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, who now serves as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service