Ministers defy Executive over graft nominees
Three Cabinet ministers defied the Executive in Parliament when they voted to reject the names of the nominees to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno, Lands minister James Orengo and Public Works minister Chris Obure were among the 49 MPs who agreed with the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to reject Mumo Matemu, Jane Onsongo and Irene Keino as nominees to the EACC.
They were joined by ten assistant ministers in going against the wishes of President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who settled on the nominees.
Mr Danson Mungatana (Garsen) had also pushed for the names to be taken on board, but he was not in the House when it came to voting.
Kilome MP Harun Mwau, who like Mr Mungatana, supported the nominees, also failed to vote. Defence assistant minister Joseph Nkaissery also did not participate in the vote.
The ten assistant ministers who rebelled against the Executive’s position are Bifwoli Wakoli, Asman Kamama, Manyala Kena, Kilemi Mwiria, Katoo ole Metito, Peter Munya, Julius Murgor, Muriithi Ndiritu, Ayiecho Olweny and Wilfred Ombui.
Another assistant minister Kabando wa Kabando had also strongly opposed the names, but he was kicked out of the House before the vote was taken for questioning the impartiality of Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim who was presiding over the debate.
"On issues before the House, we will not take orders (from the principals) on what has to happen. The message that must come out is that there are issues that must rise above parliamentary groups and ethnic caucuses," Mr Kabando had told MPs.
A look at the voting list exposed the lie that was the alleged unanimity in the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee. One of the committee members, Isaac Ruto, voted against the committee report, while all the other members supported their report.
Gitobu Imanyara (Imenti Central) who had put together fresh evidence alleging that Mr Matemu had a scandalous past at the Agricultural Finance Corporation was also not in the House when the matter was put to vote. Mr Imanyara had rallied his colleagues to reject the nominees.
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka led the government brigade in toeing the line. They were joined by Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim in raising the 50 MPs who rejected the report of the Legal Affairs Committee.
The Joint-Government whips Jakoyo Midiwo and Johnstone Muthama disagreed. While Mr Midiwo rejected the nominees, Mr Muthama voted to have the names approved.
