Journalists kicked out of Lands Committee hearing

Journalists were on Thursday morning kicked out of a sitting of the Lands Committee of the National Assembly.

The committee is investigating the National Land Commission over the alleged irregular payments of billions of shillings for the acquisition of land for Ndururumo and Ruaraka schools in Nairobi.

HEARING

The move by the Committee chairperson Dr Rachael Nyamai (Kitui South MP) to conduct the committee sessions in camera came even after the media had been told that the session would be open.

"It's uncomfortable having the media in the room," Dr Nyamai said as she directed journalists to leave the room.

Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani was the first to say that the media should be locked out of the hearing, despite opposition from Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny.

"This is a matter that is in the public domain. If the committee handles the session in private, it will raise eyebrows as to what the committee is hiding," Mr Kuttuny said.

ORDER

However, Dr Nyamai went on to make the ruling.

The House standing orders provide that a witness should make the request on whether the committee session should be held in public or private.

The committee is required to interrogate the request and make a determination.

NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri, CEO Tom Chavangi and director of evaluation Salome Munubi, who were appearing before the committee over the matter, were not given the chance to give their opinion.

In the last Parliament, Dr Nyamai's leadership of the Health Committee came into question after members accused her of highhandedness in running the committee affairs.

A motion of no confidence against her leadership was, however, thwarted after the intervention of the Executive.