MPs reject Westgate attack report

MPs Wednesday evening rejected a report on the Westgate mall terror attack.

The report was by a joint parliamentary committee, but the lawmakers criticised their colleagues and accused them of doing ‘shoddy’ work that could not be adopted by the House.

The MPs voted down the findings by the committee on Administration and National Security, and the Defence and Foreign Relations team.

The report was termed “shoddy, useless, just a bunch of papers and a mere research paper” by infuriated MPs who felt short-changed by its recommendations.

Majority Leader Aden Duale castigated the committees for not telling Kenyans what truly happened at the Westgate Shopping mall.

The MPs said they expected recommendations for the sacking of people who failed to act on intelligent reports pointing at a terror attack in the city. The went ahead and called for the sacking of top security officers.

“I respect the chairmen of the committees and their members but we have to reject this report and go back for re-evaluation,” said Mr Duale.

The committees co-chaired by Asman Kamama (National Security) and Ndung’u Gethinji (Defence) were at the centre of criticism, during the debate to adopt the report, for allegedly failing to do their work well.

The committees recommended the closure of all refugee camps saying they were terrorist hubs. However, Mr Duale said Kenya would not just wake up one day and do that.

“Kenya is a signatory to the Vienna Convention. You just cannot wake up one day and close the refugee camps as recommended in this report, the Garissa Township MP said.

“This report is unfortunate. We must reject this report in totality so that a judicial commission of inquiry is formed. Insecurity is indiscriminate. We must call a spade as spade not a big spoon. We must tell Kenyans what really happened. This report does not say so,” said Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo.

Mr Kamama, however, defended the report saying they had done their best despite working in difficult circumstances. He was supported by Mr Gethinji who asked members to read the report extensively.