MP claims life in danger over NHIF probe

Parliamentary Health Committee chairman Robert Monda has expressed fear for his life over a report on recently concluded investigations in the civil servants' medical scheme.

The chairman claimed his life was in danger after receiving several threatening calls over the past three weeks.

Dr Monda, who has keenly steered the investigations, said Thursday that he believes powerful forces are out to scuttle the report which was due for tabling in Parliament.

“Those must be associates of bad intentions out to distract the progress of concluding this report,” he said at a press conference at Parliament Buildings.

He spoke of frustrations he has encountered seeking additional security from government following the threats.

“I am telling the country that my life is in danger. I have communicated my fears to the head of Public Service Francis Kimemia asking for enhanced security because currently my environment seems to be insecure,” he said.

“The kind of calls I am receiving are very threatening,” he said at Thursday's press briefing, amid reports that members of the committee are divided on some of the recommendations contained in a report now with Speaker of the National Assembly Mr Kenneth Marende.

Protect corruption

The MP said he is frustrated with the government’s lack of concern. “If the government wants to protect corruption, let that be clear to Kenyans because when we are unearthing sensitive issues, to the government it is business as usual,” he stated.

He said he has also reported the matter to the Police Commissioner asking that his security be beefed but no action has been taken three weeks down the line.

“I know I am doing this on behalf of Kenyans, is it a shady deal when I say what I am facing and ask for protection?  I can’t walk around the city or drive the highway to Kisii because the government is less concerned about what is happening to me,” said the Nyaribari Chache MP.

“I am therefore asking Kenyans to stand by me, if anything happens to me, hold the government accountable,” he said.

Dr Monda becomes the second MP in the team to express fear for his life over the sensitive investigation on the controversial implementation of the first quarter phase of the civil servants medical cover scheme.

Early this month, Nyando MP Fred Outa claimed that he had been receiving anonymous calls threatening him if he does not go easy with the investigation.

He told the Nation that the committee was under pressure from forces outside unhappy with the committee’s work.

Earlier in Parliament, assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri had questioned how the committee’s report had leaked out to the press.

Intrigues surround the parliamentary investigation with claims that it has been "watered down".

Business and political interests have played out prominently during the sensitive investigation, both within and outside the committee with reports of crafty plotting by politicians pushing for protection of their allies who have been implicated in the scheme that was meant to provide affordable healthcare to 216, 789 civil servants.

“This issue is tough. There are more than 12 faces of interests.  I have never seen a war like this one,” sources in the committee said.

Tempers flare

Some members of the committee confirmed the intrigues to the Nation with some saying some of its recommendations do not come out as strongly as had been expected. They argue that recommendations do not tally with the findings.

Members are now trading accusations with those supporting the report accusing those against of insisting that some names be removed.

Tempers flared up at the committee’s meeting in Naivasha last weekend where the team had retreated to compile findings and recommendations for the final report. It is said that members nearly exchanged blows at the retreat after disagreeing on some of the findings and recommendations.

At Parliament Buildings on Thursday, one member is said to have lost his cool banging the table in a Clerk’s office after discovering that some of the recommendations had not been included as had been agreed on in Naivasha.

Members of the committee are said to have been under pressure from their colleagues who were lobbying to protect "their own".

An assistant minister showed up in Naivasha where the group was compiling the report and is said to have lobbied some members of the committee including claims that he offered some money.

The assistant minister is a former ally to one of the private health providers at the centre of the intrigues but the two have since parted ways over a deal gone sour.

The assistant minister, a PNU MP has allegedly been pushing to have his ally turned foe adversely mentioned in the report while seeking protection for the other accused health provider.

Members have pointed fingers at each with claims of influence by the two private health providers.  They are also divided on which ministers should be implicated.