MPs wasted funds on Westgate terror probe

Kenya: In the Soviet era, there was a popular adage; “We pretend to work, they pretend to pay us.” The loose translation of this was that the people didn’t work hard on State-owned farms, instead they stole the implements and produced whenever they could. Actually they put in the bare minimum, but got paid nonetheless.

The quality of work that led to the rejection of a parliamentary committee report on the Westgate terror attack this week resonates with this mantra. Yet it was a poignant reminder yet again of the wastage that goes on in tax-payer-funded committee probes in public institutions. Known best for his sometimes hawkish demeanour, it was refreshing to see the Leader of Majority, Adan Duale, lambast the report of the committee.

Yet what has become the norm in Parliament is for MPs to grasp at every opportunity to make a quick shilling, even if, like the case in question, their capacity to interrogate the issues and come up with solid recommendations is dreadful. Were this an isolated case, there would be little cause for concern. In truth, committee sittings have become one of the seats the ruling elite take on the gravy train.

The country expected that the committee would have delved into one of the country’s grim tragedies with a sense of duty and unmatched zealousness and help tell the country who failed and hence hold them to account. Alas! Even some of their own have dismissed the report as shoddy.

Parliament’s chief role is to hold the fire to the feet of the other arms of Government.

It was apparent from the MPs’ contributions that the committee had glossed over the issues, in an apparent cover-up. Because it is obvious that there was an apparent lack of intellect deployed with regard to the report, one wonders what calibre of MPs would recommend that the Government should close all refugee camps. One wishes that there was a provision to demand that MPs be surcharged their Sh5,000 sitting allowance for doing a poor job or that they be required to do a better one.