Jubilee MPs dominate probe team

Jubilee Coalition will dominate the proposed select committee to investigate claims that witnesses who testified to the Waki Commission on post-election violence were procured and coached.

Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairman Samuel Chepkong’a named 10 Jubilee MPs to the 15-member team expected to investigate and report to the National Assembly in 90 days.

Some of the Cord MPs named to the committee have been branded rebels within their parties or have become less outwardly aligned with the coalition’s ideals.

Speaker Justin Muturi informed MPs that the motion is sponsored by the Jubilee coalition. This means the motion will be given special treatment and debated expeditiously. House rules require that a motion sponsored by a party shall have precedence over all other motions on such a day as the House Business Committee … may determine.

Discomfort was evident after Mr Chepkong’a officially notified the House about his intention to initiate the debate, with two opposition MPs questioning it.

Mr Olago Aluoch (Kisumu West, Ford Kenya) asked the Speaker to determine whether discussing the Waki Report would be legal under the principle of separation of powers given that there is an active case at the International Criminal Court related to the motion’s subject.

Mr Muturi ruled him out of order.

“When the motion comes up for debate, the issues you’re raising can be addressed,” said Mr Muturi.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa asked why majority of members were from Jubilee.