Harold Kipchumba Kimuge has officially taken his oath as a nominated member of Kenya’s National Assembly, filling the seat left vacant by John Mbadi, who was recently appointed as Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury. Kimuge, nominated under the Persons with Disabilities category by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), was sworn in on Tuesday, July 29, during a plenary session of the 13th Parliament. His nomination was confirmed in a special gazette notice issued by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on July 24.
Hon. Kipchumba Harold Kimuge has taken his oath as a nominated member of the National Assembly following his gazettement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, read a statement posted by the National Assembly on its official X account.
Kimuge’s appointment completes ODM’s slot in the party-list nominations and fulfills the constitutional requirement for inclusion of persons with disabilities in Parliament.
However, the move has triggered dissent within ODM ranks. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi questioned the party’s decision to nominate Kimuge over John Ketora, who had been publicly endorsed in 2024 by ODM officials for the same position under the workers’ category.
“I thought John Ketora from Kajiado County was the rightful young man to replace Mbadi in Parliament. What happened?” Amisi asked in a post dated July 25 on his verified X account.
The controversy stems from Ketora’s previous backing by the ODM Youth League and key party figures, raising concerns over transparency and internal lobbying during the selection process.
Despite the criticism, the IEBC defended the reallocation process. In its statement, the commission confirmed that all replacements were conducted in line with legal and constitutional guidelines.
“The Commission reallocated one special seat in the National Assembly and nine in county assemblies, following notifications of vacancy due to resignations and deaths,” the IEBC said in a statement, referencing Gazette Notice No. 10083, Vol. CXXVII–159.
The electoral body emphasized its commitment to fairness and representation, adding, “The Commission continues to promote equitable representation and safeguard the integrity of our democratic institutions.”
Kimuge’s swearing-in strengthens ODM’s presence in Parliament but leaves lingering questions about the party’s internal processes, especially in handling high-stakes nominations. The party leadership has not issued a formal response to Amisi’s remarks.
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