Mutea Iringo trying to kick me out of PAC, says embattled Namwamba

Beleaguered Public Accounts Committee Chairman Ababu Namwamba has accused Defence Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo of conspiring to have him kicked out of the committee because of investigations into how the Interior Ministry spent Sh2.9 billion from secret funds.

During last week’s failed proceedings to remove him, Mr Namwamba — himself accused of corruption by other members of the committee — named members he claims were bribed by Mr Iringo to influence their work.

Mr Namwamba said he secretly recorded a confession by an official regarding the conspiracy. He was responding to an accusation floating in the session that it was indeed he who was paid Sh5 million by an unnamed person in the Office of the President, and which he was to allegedly share with other PAC members to influence investigations into the security accounts.

PAC investigated how money was withdrawn from security accounts and questioned how Sh2.9 billion was spent. The committee recommended that Mr Iringo, among others, be investigated even though that recommendation is itself in question because some members have accused the chairman of falsifying committee reports.

SWAMP OF CORRUPTION

Records of the proceedings reveal how Parliament has become a swamp of corruption, mutual loathing among members and even disrespect for parliamentary staff. Members clearly fight over foreign trips and propose to use parliamentary retreats to sweep under the carpet what appears to be catfights, apparently over bribes.

Mr Namwamba is in trouble with sections of his party, ODM and the Opposition coalition, Cord, after he secretly recorded private conversations with coalition leader Raila Odinga.

In the National Assembly, the Speaker has ordered an investigation on PAC to be conducted by the Powers and Privileges Committee, and the life of PAC looks certain to be cut short.

Among individuals also named at the stormy meeting are Senior Counsel and Nairobi Law Monthly publisher Ahmednasir Abdullahi and former Judiciary Registrar Gladys Boss Shollei.

RECEIVED A BRIBE

Mr Iringo is alleged to have been the source of a Sh1.5 million bribe that he allegedly paid to be spared by the committee. Mr Abdullahi is alleged to have met Mr Namwamba over tea at the Fairview Hotel and used the information gathered from their talks to imply in his magazine that PAC Vice-Chairwoman Cecily Mbarire had received a bribe over the investigations in the Judiciary touching on Mrs Shollei.

From their arguments, which were captured as “loud consultations” by the Hansard,  it was evident that the committee was riddled with bribery claims, mistrust and bad faith.

At one point, both Mr Namwamba and Ms Mbarire offered to resign but then vowed that the fight must go on because their reputations and that of the committee and the entire House were at stake.

At another point, said Mr Namwamba, when the committee travelled to Hyderabad, India, in the course of its investigations into IEBC procurement contracts, 4G Identity Solutions, the company they were going to visit, offered to pay the cost of their meals, accommodation and local travel.

ABABU REFUSED FAVOURS

Mr Namwamba claims to have refused these favours but said another MP accepted them.

During the stormy meeting, Mr Namwamba dropped the bombshell in the form of a lengthy letter to Speaker Justin Muturi and the conversations he had recorded during his February 22 meeting with Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama, Cord leader Raila Odinga and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed.

He claimed that Mr Iringo paid Sh1.5 million to Eddick Anyanga (Nyatike, ODM), James Bett (Kesses, URP), Ahmed Ibrahim Abass (Ijara, ODM) and Mr Arama (ODM).

In Parliamentary records, an unidentified member was quoted as telling Mr Anyanga: “You are at the heart of this matter, Hon. Anyanga.

You are the instigator of this issue. You are the source of the bribe. You are the receiver of the bribe. Now you are getting worked up! On this one, you will sink with your crime. You will sink with your evils.”

DENY ALLEGATIONS

All of the named MPs bitterly deny the allegations. Mr Iringo has in the past denied wrongdoing in the management of security accounts by the Interior Ministry.

Mr Namwamba said he spoke to Mr Iringo on Mr Bett’s phone over lunch at the restaurant in Parliament.

“I talked to the Principal Secretary through Hon Bett’s phone. I asked the Principal Secretary whether it was true that someone had come to him and used my name to solicit a bribe on a matter. I am very pained honourable members over this matter. Very pained. You have massacred my name. Hon Bett, if you are an honest man with a conscience, you can confirm what I am telling the Committee,” Mr Namwamba is recorded as saying.

Mr Bett replies: “That is a lie! I talk to many principal secretaries.”