MPs want ex-JSC members probed over fat allowances

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga (centre), flanked by former JSC members, addresses the media at the Supreme Court in Nairobi on October 18, 2013. Lawmakers on February 15, 2016 sought an amendment to a PAC special audit report to recommend probing of ex-JSC members for convening unnecessary meetings to earn fat allowances. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • MPs sought an amendment to the PAC special audit report to recommend investigation of ex-JSC members.

  • An amendment to the report by Ugenya MP David Ochieng exonerated Chief Justice Willy Mutunga from blame.

  • The initial report had recommended he be held liable for the allowances earned at meetings convened without his knowledge.

A National Assembly oversight committee wants senior judges investigated for irregularly earning sitting allowances while they were members of the Judicial Service Commission.

Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga and his Kiharu counterpart Irungu Kang’ata sought an amendment to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) special audit report to recommend investigation of Supreme Court judge Smokin Wanjala and Court of Appeal judge Mohammed Warsame.

Others are JSC commissioners Samuel Kobia, Christine Mango and Emily Ominde, and former commissioner Ahmednasir Abdullahi.

The report, prepared by the Auditor-General on the directive of PAC, indicated that the JSC commissioners convened several meetings beyond what is recommended, so as to earn fat allowances.

However, an amendment to the report by Ugenya MP David Ochieng exonerated Chief Justice Willy Mutunga from blame.

The initial report had recommended he be held liable for the allowances earned at meetings convened without his knowledge.