MPs want House team to quit over graft allegations

Members of the commission that runs the affairs of the Kenyan Parliament were under pressure to resign on Thursday after MPs accused them of a litany of ills.

The Parliamentary Service Commission was accused of varying multi-billion shilling contracts, extortion and nepotism in staff employment, salaries and promotion. (READ: MPs plot to disband powerful House team)

The MPs, who held an informal meeting at Parliament’s Old Chambers, also alleged some members of the PSC were taking too many unnecessary trips abroad and including relatives in their entourages.

Administrative arm

Gwassi MP John Mbadi, the only one who spoke on record after the meeting, told the Nation that the allegations were grave and that the commissioners “had no other option but to just resign”.

“There’s no other reason why they should continue holding office in the PSC,” he said. The Commission is the administrative arm of the National Assembly.

Its members are Mr Olago Aluoch, Mr Chris Okemo, Mr Zakayo Cheruiyot, Mr Jamleck Kamau, Mr Peter Mwathi and Mr Joseph Lekuton.

Mr Walter Nyambati, who was vice-chairman, was replaced on Thursday by Mr Adan Keynan after losing his seat in a petition, while the Rev Julius Murgor, who was appointed assistant minister has not been replaced.

It is chaired by Speaker Kenneth Marende. On Thursday, members of the commission declined to speak to the press, saying they will wait until next week when a follow-up meeting is held to respond to the allegations.

Sources at the meeting said MPs were unhappy that the commission did not defend them when the taxman demanded that they pay taxes on their allowances. (READ: PSC undecided on MPs tax row)

The commission, they said, ought to act as a union for lawmakers and should at all times fight for their welfare.

Inviting women

Some of the commissioners were even accused of inviting women for sexual escapades in their offices within the precincts of Parliament.

The closed-door meeting began at about 11am and went on up to 2pm. The MPs are said to have had “a lot of issues”.

Joint Government whip Jakoyo Midiwo declined to comment on the details of the meeting, saying it will defeat the very reason of holding it in camera.

“I don’t want to breach the rules. But all I can say is that the accusations were so many that time ran out.

“The commissioners did not even have time to respond,” said Mr Midiwo, adding that a follow-up meeting is scheduled for next week.

Multiple sources at the meeting said Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo and Mr Mbadi, who has drawn up a motion to kick out six commissioners, read out the allegations.

MPs who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from the commissioners and their allies both within and outside Parliament, said recruitment of Parliamentary staff was questionable.

Mr Mbadi said he won’t withdraw his motion that was awaiting approval at the Speaker’s office until the beleaguered commissioners quit.

He charged that the commission had varied the cost of a new office block from Sh5.8 billion to Sh6.5 billion. That’s a whole 500 million above the initial cost without adequate explanation.

Sh350 million is said to have already been paid to a consultant, yet the site for the construction of the building had not even been identified.

Mr Mbadi accused two commissioners, who he did not name, of attempting to extort money from an insurance firm.

The attempt was foiled when the insurer raised the matter with other commissioners.

“They wanted a cut of 10 per cent of the amount that Parliament was paying and threatened to cancel the contract,” the Gwassi MP said.

Incompetent people

On recruitment, MPs heard that incompetent people had been hired and that some commissioners plucked credentials of applicants from the application letters, so as to skew employment towards their cronies.

The promotion and pay scale in the National Assembly is also haphazard.

“There’s a copy typist who earns more than a PhD holder in this House,” said Mr Mbadi, adding that only a few select staff are sponsored for training abroad.

Other MPs said that the tendering for the fancy leather seats for the refurbished chambers had been cancelled, yet five commissioners flew to Spain twice, on Business Class tickets, to meet the supplier.

House Speaker Kenneth Marende will chair the follow-up meeting next week where it is expected a deal will be struck.

The feeling among lawmakers is that the matter should be settled in camera out of the public eye.