Debate on Sh1.1bn Tokyo embassy scam shelved

Last Thursday, tempers flared in the House when MPs learnt that debate on the matter had been excluded from the Order Paper — the list of parliamentary business. Photo/FILE

Debate on a House report linking Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula to the Sh1.1 billion Tokyo embassy scandal has been shelved.

The report is not in the list of parliamentary business for Tuesday, meaning that the explosive debate on the scandal stands to be postponed a second time.

Parliament rules require that business be known 12 hours before the sitting, meaning that changes can still be made and the scandal included for debate.

Last Thursday, tempers flared in the House when MPs learnt that debate on the matter had been excluded from the Order Paper — the list of parliamentary business.

According to Tuesday’s programme, the House Business Committee, chaired by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, has given priority to the Bill on the formation of the commission that will implement the new constitution, which is at the committee stage.

Also to be debated is a report by the Departmental Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives on troubles in the sugar sector.

This effectively gives Mr Wetang’ula more time to lobby MPs and prepare his defence. On Thursday, he asked for more time, saying he had not had time to read the report.

There are only two sittings of Parliament this week — Tuesday and Thursday afternoon — since Wednesday is Mashujaa Day, a public holiday.

The House was poised to debate the report last Thursday afternoon but the session was postponed after business was deferred following confusion over the Order Paper.

Trouble started when MPs realised an Order Paper that had the report as an agenda had been removed and replaced with a fresh one at about 10am that morning.

It had been replaced with the Finance Bill despite the fact that Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who was to initiate debate, was away.

In Bungoma, Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli criticised pro-Wetang’ula demonstrators, saying they were likely to anger MPs into voting to censure the Foreign Affairs minister.

Mr Wakoli urged the residents of Bungoma to be patient until MPs look at the report and debate its content. He said Mr Wetang’ula and his supporters have nothing to worry about if he is innocent.