Joseph Kinyua helps ‘restore’ Parliament power supply
Former Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.
What you need to know:
- MPs were surprised and asked whether it was true that he had pushed for the reconnection.
- Parliament, which is facing a cash crunch because of the delay by the National Treasury to disburse money to various government departments.
Head of Civil Service Joseph Kinyua on Monday intervened for Kenya Power to reconnect electricity at Parliament after three days.
Power was disconnected on Friday over what an insider said was a dispute over the bill and despite the Parliamentary Service Commission paying Sh5.4 million during the same week.
The electricity was reconnected at mid-morning as Mr Kinyua met the Public Accounts Committee to shed light on his role in the procurement of materials used in the March 2013, General Election.
“It is because of my intervention that electricity has been restored,” said Mr Kinyua when lights came on in Committee Room 9.
MPs were surprised and asked whether it was true that he had pushed for the reconnection.
Mr Kinyua responded in the affirmative and the lawmakers applauded.
The disconnection of power is the lowest point of a bad phase for Parliament, which is facing a cash crunch because of the delay by the National Treasury to disburse money to various government departments.
“There has been a delay in the release of funds by the Treasury,” the commission’s Secretary Jeremiah Nyegenye said.
He referred inquiries to the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who is the commission’s chairman.
The Speaker did not respond, but it is understood that the commission convened a crisis meeting with the Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, who is the acting Energy CS.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan, who is a member of the commission, told the Nation the crisis has affected salaries and foreign trips have been cancelled.
“We have not paid our MPs and our insurance. Last month, allowances for security personnel was delayed,” said Mr Keynan.
