Kimunya: PM to explain Wetang'ula Cabinet return

The decision to reinstate Moses Wetang’ula as Foreign Affairs minister in a Cabinet reshuffle will be explained to Parliament next week.

Transport minister Amos Kimunya said the decision will be explained by Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his capacity as the supervisor and coordinator of government.

The Deputy Leader of government business in Parliament said this as House Speaker Kenneth Marende remained tight-lipped on the day he was expected to make a ruling on the same matter.

The statement was initially sought by Bahari MP Benedict Gunda, who is a member of the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee.

Mr Kimunya had initially said the statement sought on Thursday morning last week would be delivered next Wednesday as the Office of the President had asked for more time for consultation.

But Mr Gunda protested and asked for the statement to be delivered on Thursday this week.

"As the supervisor and coordinator of Government business and the ministries, the Prime Minister would be the best person to handle the statement. I want that question deferred to Wednesday next week because there is a holiday tomorrow (Wednesday),"  Mr Kimunya then explained. 

Mr Marende’s expected ruling on the same matter was to be made in response to a request by Defence Committee chairman Adan Keynan.

Mr Keynan asked the Speaker to make the ruling on the basis that the committee had found that Mr Wetang’ula had misled it on several occasions and was therefore found to be unfit to run a public office.

He was supported by Ikolomani MP Dr Boni Khalwale, who had sought to know whether Mr Wetang’ula could be allowed to deal with a committee that had declared him unfit to run a public office.

“That this Parliament can reach a resolution as an independent arm of government and another arm of government ignores or acts to suggest that they have reversed, is a serious threat to Parliamentary democracy,” said Mr Kimunya on Thursday morning. 

Mr Wetang’ula stepped aside in October last year minutes before Parliament adopted the damning report of the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee into the disposal and purchase of Kenyan embassies abroad.

Also reappointed was Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi, who also resumed the position he had left over the same scandal last year.