Probe all House teams, say MPs

Investigations into allegations of corruption in the Public Accounts Committee should be extended to other parliamentary teams, a section of MPs have said.

Speaking on behalf of the MPs, mostly from western Kenya, who had accompanied PAC Chairman Ababu Namwamba to his meeting with the Privileges committee, Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu said the concerns went beyond the PAC.

“This activity of trying to restore the integrity of the National Assembly at large should also be extended to other committees,” said Dr Simiyu.

“Let the investigations of the Powers and Privileges Committee cover all committees of Parliament and the entire Parliament as an institution,” said Mr Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town, ODM).

In the corridors of Parliament, word has been rife that the only reason the storm in PAC blew up was because the members were unable to suppress it and were more determined to remove their chairman.

Without concrete proof and the fact that the standard of proof required is quite high, the claims that the men and women elected to oversee the other arms of government are easily bought, have remained just that, claims.

GIVEN A SUV

Among the most sensational allegations is that of two committee chairmen said to have been given a sport utility vehicle each by the head of a State corporation that was under investigation in Parliament.

One of the MPs was allegedly given a Land Rover and his colleague a Toyota Land Cruiser V8.

Speaker Justin Muturi reacted with mirth when the Agriculture committee tabled its report on the plight of sugarcane farmers in western Kenya.

The committee has been in the spotlight in Parliament over the last year because of sitting on the report for too long amid claims that some of its members have been compromised.

Over the last year, for example, Administration and National Security Committee Chairman Asman Kamama has survived four attempts to remove him.

Although the committee’s disgruntlement with Mr Kamama arose after their report on the Westgate attack was rejected, there have been suggestions that the root of the problem was over the sharing of bribes.

This week, it emerged that the committees on Health and Delegated Legislation have been under pressure from tobacco manufacturers to annul sections of the tobacco regulations or reject them altogether.

In the Public Investments Committee, members were split last year after the chairman tabled a report recommending the cancellation of a contract to a company that will oversee the construction of the new railway.

Under pressure from some members, the committee has made unsuccessful attempt to withdraw the report from the House.