Muturi blocks bid to declare Kidero unfit for office

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Thursday shot down a proposal to bar Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero from public office, and kicked out the MP who had made it for causing a disturbance in the House.

MPs were also stopped from adding to a report a recommendation that the governor be surcharged Sh577 million in value added tax that would have been paid for fictitious exports from Mumias Sugar Company.

Mr Muturi ruled that the recommendations Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali wanted added to the Agriculture Committee’s report on the sugar sector were inadmissible.

He said this was because they would fundamentally alter the content and intent of the report, contrary to the House’s rules, and would impose upon MPs a decision that had not been scrutinised by the committee.

Mr Washiali’s claim that his failure to sign the report signified his disagreement was also thrown out because he did not record his dissent and produce a minority report containing his punitive suggestions.

“I’m of the opinion that such amendments ought to have been raised as substantive Motions for quasi-judicial examination before the committee or carried in a minority report to the House,” said Mr Muturi.

The speaker ruled that copies of bank deposit slips, payment vouchers and letters tabled by Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo were not admissible.

STANDING ORDERS

Also thrown out was the attempt to draw in owners of all the trucks that ferried sugar from Mumias Sugar go-downs supposedly for export, and directors of the companies associated with them.

The companies are YH Wholesalers, Paleah Stores Ltd and International Relief Services.

Dr Kidero was the managing director of Mumias Sugar Company between 2003 and 2012.

Mr Muturi said the recommendations by Mr Washiali were in breach of the Standing Orders.

Mr Washiali initially reacted coolly, telling his colleagues that he was emotionally sober and would accept the decision.

“I am satisfied with the way you have ruled,” he said. He said the director of the company that had been associated with him was not his personal assistant.

Mr Washiali said the committee wrote the report twice and that a complete report was prepared at Whitesands hotel in Mombasa, but that thee committee then went to Windsor Hotel and wrote another.

He was, however, interrupted on the basis of relevance, with his ODM counterparts also asking him to sit down. He lost his cool and started shouting.

Mr Muturi ordered him to leave but he continued shouting, prompting the Speaker to ask the sergeants-at-arms to eject him.