Pkosing elected Public Investments Committee chair

Pokot South MP David Pkosing is the newly elected chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy/FILE

Pokot South MP David Pkosing has been elected chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy unopposed.

He retained the seat in a vote where the House team also elected his Turkana South counterpart John Ariko unopposed as vice chairperson, marking a historic leadership partnership between the neighboring communities of Pokot and Turkana. The vice- chairperson position was previously held by Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo.

Pkosing has previously served as the chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Transport, Public Works, and Housing from 2017 to 2022.

He served as chairperson of the Committee on Public Investment Committee; Commercial Affairs and Energy before being re-elected. Pkosing expressed gratitude to committee members for their trust, vowing to execute the Committee’s mandate effectively.

Pkosing thanked members of the committee and the principals of the broad-based government—President William Ruto and Raila Odinga—for entrusting him with the responsibility.

"This is a sign of unity, and I promise we will work hand in hand to meet the committee's objectives," he affirmed.

The members lauded the elections and expressed optimism about the committee’s leadership and called on it to strive to conclude the reviews of the audit reports under their purview.

Eldas MP Aden Keynan urged the new leaders to serve with diligence.

"Congratulations to the chairperson and vice-chairperson. As members, we respect your leadership and look forward to working together to safeguard Kenya’s resources," he remarked.

Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere highlighted the symbolic significance of the election, emphasising the need for unity between the Turkana and Pokot communities.

“Just as you are seated together ready to serve Kenyans, we also want to see you bring Turkana and Pokot together. This is the beginning of cohesion and integration," Korere said.

"I believe this is the beginning of cohesion and integration between Turkanas and Pokot."

Vihiga Woman Rep Beatrice Adagala also commended the duo, noting that despite historical tensions between their communities, their leadership symbolises peace and cooperation.

"There’s a perception that these two communities are rivals back in the village, but I am confident that within this committee, we will work in harmony to deliver results," Adagala said.

"This is the best committee we will have in Parliament. I believe this is an able team that will deliver."

Pkosing reinforced this message, dismissing misconceptions about Turkana-Pokot relations.

"For the record, Pokots and Turkanas are good friends. If you go to schools, colleges, and even abroad, you will find them learning and living together in peace; we are the greatest friends," he said.

“We might have problems and challenges that are similar on the ground, but we are the greatest friends outside, and this is a great testimony that now the two of us will now steer this committee ahead,” he added.

He asked the members to come back from recess ready to work towards effective delivery of service to the nation.

"We shall have a small induction to know the mandate of the committee to the new members joining us," he said.

“We shall have to look at how we shall improve on our reports since we have about three reports that are pending.”

The newly elected leaders are expected to steer the committee towards efficiency, ensuring timely reports and effective oversight of Kenya’s commercial and energy sectors.

The Public Investment Committee on Energy and Commercial Affairs is established under the National Assembly Standing Order (S.O.) 206A and is responsible for the examination of the working of public investments based on their audited reports and accounts in the sectors of energy, environment, general economic, and commercial affairs.

Pkosing reaffirmed that together with Ariko and the team, they would prioritise the pending reviews.

"We have three pending reports, and we will discuss how to fast-track them. We only have one report, which is not the best in the face of the organisations we oversight," Pkosing said.

The changes followed the lapse of the term of departmental committees.