Ababu kicked out of House for four days
What you need to know:
- Standing behind two drawn bars at the entrance to the chamber, Mr Namwamba said he stood by the information he gave to the Powers and Privileges Committee.
- Other former PAC members who had been named with Mr Namwamba and had been required to apologise were allowed to proceed with House business after they complied.
- PAC Vice-Chairman Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes, TNA) was exempted from making an apology, even though she was part of the team.
Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba has been kicked out of the National Assembly for four days after refusing to apologise for breaching ethics.
He was the first of five former members of the disbanded Public Accounts Committee (PAC) asked to apologise to the House for breaching the privileges and powers given to MPs.
The ODM secretary-general is now barred from the precincts of Parliament and will not earn any allowances for the days he will be away.
Standing behind two drawn bars at the entrance to the chamber, Mr Namwamba said he stood by the information he gave to the Powers and Privileges Committee.
Quoting revered Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, the MP declared he would not apologise.
“For me to withdraw that information would compromise the investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. I therefore declare that for the avoidance of doubt and without an iota of fear, I will not apologise,” he said.
Mr Namwamba, however, explained why he wrote to the Speaker asking to step aside from his duties as MP by keeping away from House and committee sittings.
The MP said he withdrew the letter moments after it was submitted to Speaker Justin Muturi because he was not a graft suspect but had been called by the anti-corruption team as a witness.
Other former PAC members who had been named with Mr Namwamba and had been required to apologise were allowed to proceed with House business after they complied.
They are Mr James Bett (Kesses, (URP) and Mr Omondi Anyanga (Nyatike, ODM). Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso directed that the fourth MP, Ahmed Abass, be made to stand behind drawn bars and apologise when he goes to the chambers.
PAC Vice-Chairman Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes, TNA) was exempted from making an apology, even though she was part of the team.
According to Dr Laboso, Mr Namwamba, was sanctioned for failing to substantiate serious allegations of abuse of privileges and code of conduct allegedly committed by members of PAC, contrary to Standing Order 91.
He was also charged with contemptuously discussing the proceedings of the committee in the media, contrary to Standing Order 86.
The Deputy Speaker, who termed the sanctioning and apologies by the MPs as a first for the House, called the leaders one by one.
She asked them to stand behind the closed bars before reprimanding them.
“I hereby reprimand you and inform you that this House expresses its displeasure on your conduct of bringing the integrity of the PAC into disrepute by failing to substantiate allegations,” Dr Laboso said.
