NAIROBI, Kenya – Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi has been elected as the new Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, replacing Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro in a major shift within Parliament’s budget oversight body.
Atandi’s election is seen as a direct outcome of the broad-based government arrangement between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga, which has gradually reshaped Kenya’s political and parliamentary landscape.
Endebess MP Robert Pukose who was previously the chair of the health committee has been elected as the vice chairperson of the committee unopposed.
Following his victory, Atandi credited the bipartisan cooperation for his ascension, stating that the agreement between the government and opposition leaders had opened doors for a more inclusive leadership structure.
“I want to applaud the broad-based government; it has made this possible. We have reached this point because of this new approach to governance,” Atandi said.
He went on to express gratitude to both Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President William Ruto, acknowledging their roles in fostering a working relationship across party lines.
“I want to thank my party leader Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister. I also want to thank President William Ruto, who has allowed us to work together,” he added.
Atandi’s takeover follows growing discontent with former Chair Ndindi Nyoro’s handling of the budget process, with allegations that funds were disproportionately allocated to certain regions while others were sidelined.
During a heated debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohammed strongly criticized how resources had been distributed under Nyoro’s tenure.
Ichung’wah condemned what he called “budget-making for a privileged few,” vowing that the House would no longer tolerate unfair distribution of funds.
“We will not allow a situation where members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee allocate money only to their constituencies while others get nothing,” Ichung’wah said.
Junet Mohammed, on the other hand, sarcastically questioned why MPs were making benchmarking visits to Kiharu, suggesting that Nyoro’s constituency had benefited disproportionately from public funds.
With mounting criticism, Nyoro did not submit his nomination papers ahead of the elections, signaling his withdrawal from the race and effectively ending his tenure at the helm of the influential committee.
As the new chair, Atandi promised a more balanced and transparent budget process, addressing concerns raised by MPs about previous skewed resource allocations.
“We have taken up this committee at a time when a number of members have raised concerns. We have heard them, and while some comments are valid, others may not be,” he acknowledged.
He committed to a nationwide approach to budget-making, ensuring that all regions receive a fair share of resources.
“I am going to ensure we look at the map of Kenya when sharing resources so that each and every part of the country benefits. We want to meet the expectations of this committee,” Atandi stated.
