By Peter Opiyo
Anti-corruption crusaders have expressed shock over claims of bribery in Parliament during consideration of a report that implicated Transport Minister Amos Kimunya and Central Bank of Kenya Governor Njunguna Ndung’u in the loss of Sh1.8 billion in a currency printing deal.
The groups now want National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende to investigate the allegations where some MPs were reported to have been given bribes of between Sh20,000 to Sh30,000 to water down the Public Accounts Committee’s report.
Mars Group’s Mwalimu Mati said the allegations must be investigated by the leadership of Parliament as the claims are ‘very shocking.’
“The allegations mean there is something rotten here and the Speaker is duty-bound to institute investigations on this,” said Mr Mati.
And the President of the National Civil Society Congress Mr Morris Odhiambo said the allegations are criminal in nature there ought to be investigations, but expressed doubt whether such probe would yield desired results.
“Obviously these investigations should be investigated but the problem is who is to be investigated because Kenyans have no trust in the investigating bodies as constituted now,” said Mr Odhiambo.
Mr Mati said the allegations show that the legislators value monetary gains at the expense of their conscience and effective representation of the people.
Mr Odhiambo said the happenings are a sign to Kenyans that they are on their own and that they cannot rely of the MPs to champion their interests.
“It shows that Kenyans are on their own. We can’t rely on MPs because they are obviously compromised,” he said.
The Civil Society, he pointed out is organizing itself to put in place a social vetting mechanism that would ensure leaders of questionable characters are not elected into office.
There are reports that some MPs were paid between Sh20,000 to Sh30,000 to save Kimunya from indictment over the loss of Sh1.8 billion in a currency-printing deal between the CBK and British firm De La Rue.
