Wetang’ula fights for survival
Embattled Foreign Affairs minister Mosses Wetangula. Photo/ FILE
A group of MPs plans to absolve Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula from any blame in the buying of diplomatic property in Tokyo when Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday.
At the same time, two diplomats who the parliamentary committee on defence and foreign relations described as the chief architects of the controversial deal have been summoned from their stations abroad.
The Nation learnt that Mr Allan Mburu, the charge d’affaires at the Kenyan mission in Tokyo and Mr Anthony Muchiri, the Kenyan ambassador to Libya, were ordered back home after their names were adversely mentioned in the report tabled in Parliament by the committee’s chairman Mr Adan Keynan on Thursday.
MPs close to the minister who declined to be quoted for fear of appearing to take debate outside parliament said they would propose an amendment to the report to expunge Mr Wetang’ula’s name on the grounds that the report does not show any role he played in the execution of the scandal.
But it is the tradition in the country for ministers to be held responsible for corruption in their ministries and some have been to resign for this.
Mr Wetang’ula held talks with his Finance counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta at the latter’s Treasury office on Sunday morning to rally his support.
He also held talks with MPs from various parts of the country who reportedly assured him of their support when the debate resumes on Tuesday.
The pro-Wetang’ula MPs intend to push the line of argument that the report does not show the minister’s direct involvement which is sufficient proof that he could have been kept in the dark by his juniors.
Moving the motion for the adoption of the report in Parliament on Thursday evening, Mr Keynan gave shocking details of how more than Sh1 billion was paid out to foreign ministry officials to buy the property in Tokyo.
The report calls for the suspension of Mr Wetangula and Permanent Secretary Mwangi Thuita pending full investigations.
It describes Mr Mburu and Mr Muchiri as the masterminds of the transaction and recommends that they step aside to allow for investigations.
A close ally, Kimilili MP Simiyu Eseli on Saturday said that Mr Wetangula was not the accounting officer at the ministry and his mandate was limited to giving the ministry policy direction.
