Ababu team graft claims to be probed

The Public Accounts Committee has been suspended for at least three weeks as it members are investigated over graft claims.

Speaker Justin Muturi announced the decision in the House Thursday after Majority Leader Aden Duale (Garissa Township MP), supported by other MPs, raised concerns on Wednesday over the committee’s internal wrangling.

They will be probed by the Powers and Privileges Committee and Mr Muturi temporarily stepped down as the chairman of that committee.
The Speaker appointed Kuresoi North MP Moses Cheboi to lead the investigations to avoid bias since he had earlier spoken to committee Chairman Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i MP).

The first meeting will be held on Monday and the team has 21 days to complete the job. Once the probe report is tabled, the House must debate it within three days.

THREE MPs

The team was given the leeway to choose a maximum of three MPs who have served for more than one term to assist in the inquiry.

The committee has the difficult task of establishing whether the allegations made by the MPs against Mr Namwamba are true and whether those Mr Namwamba made against some members are true.

Mr Muturi said: “Given the seriousness of an allegation of bribery, the standard of proof required to substantiate the claims ought to be very high.”

This is the first time in recent history that a House committee has been suspended.

The suspension means that the committee will not have its sittings, which in turn means a fresh attempt to oust Mr Namwamba mooted by Ijara MP Ibrahim Abass will also have to be put aside.

The temporary members will, however, not be allowed to vote and neither will they be counted to form a quorum.