Nyambati’s return to key House team raises eyebrows

Discontent is brewing among Members of Parliament following the quiet return of Mr Walter Nyambati to the powerful team that runs the affairs of the House.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka engineered Mr Nyambati’s return to the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) when he nominated him [Mr Nyambati] to represent the Leader of Government Business.

The Speaker is the chairman of the commission. Mr Nyambati’s return to the commission came just a day before Parliament advertised for multi-million-shilling refurbishment contracts for the offices of the PSC commissioners and the Senate.

The current budget for the refurbishment of buildings within the National Assembly is Sh705 million.

There is also Sh22 million alloted for the “purchase of specialised equipment”.

In addition, the cost to remodel Parliament’s Old Chambers in Nairobi to accommodate the Senate is Sh680 million. The commission has asked interested bidders to respond by February 17.

Though opinion is divided over whether Mr Nyambati’s return is regular, the commissioners argue that Mr Musyoka had authority to appoint an MP to represent him (the VP as the Leader of Government Business) at the commission.

Insiders said there has been quiet lobbying to have Mr Nyambati back on the commission, and that’s why the VP wrote to Speaker Kenneth Marende informing him of the move.

Sources told the Sunday Nation on condition of anonymity for fear of a backlash from the commissioners that Mr Nyambati had clout among the commissioners.

It is for this reason that the commissioners had wanted to reserve the seat of the vice-chairman for him.

However, the unequivocal endorsement of Mr Adan Keynan, the Wajir West MP, as a permanent commissioner scuttled the plan. (READ: PNU loses bid to reserve key post for Nyambati)

Mr Keynan was unanimously elected as the vice-chairman of the commission. On Saturday, Mr Jamleck Kamau, who sits on the PSC, confirmed that Mr Nyambati was back at the commission.

“He’s coming to sit in the place of the Leader of Government Business. There’s no approval from Parliament required for him to sit in the commission.

“In any case, he has already been sworn in. He was sworn in on Thursday evening after a lengthy meeting of commissioners,” Mr Kamau, the MP for Kigumo, told the Sunday Nation.

Joint Government Chief Whip Johnstone Muthama said there was “nothing unusual” in the way Mr Nyambati was taken on board at the commission.

The commissioners who spoke to the Sunday Nation said Mr Musyoka had not committed any illegality.

They said that Mr Musyoka could not pick Mr Amos Kimunya, the Deputy Leader of Government Business, because the latter is a minister.

The commissioners said the VP could only pick a backbencher for the post. However, Mr Nyambati’s return might rekindle the fight by MPs to reconstitute the PSC.

Last year, a section of MPs sought to have the current team disbanded over what they claimed was its involvement in questionable contracts.(READ: MPs plot to disband powerful House team)

Some MPs were also unhappy with the manner PSC handled the standoff with the Kenya Revenue Authority over taxation of their salaries. (READ: PSC undecided on MPs tax row)