EACC threatens to send home rowdy MPs

Kenya: The anti-graft agency will investigate the chaos that transpired in Parliament and initiate a process of sending home MPs who misbehaved.

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairman Mumo Matemu faulted the MPs for causing chaos in the National Assembly, forcing Speaker Justin Muturi to suspend the session for 30 minutes during the special sitting to discuss the controversial Security laws (Amendment) Bill.

But lawyers have said what transpired in Parliament is not within the mandate of the EACC to investigate.

Speaking to The Standard on Saturday over the phone, Law Society of Kenya Council member Geoffrey Kitiwa said it is the mandate of the Director of Public Prosecution to investigate the MPs over the criminal act adding that the incident cuts across the political divide.

“Though what happened in Parliament is a shame and should be condemned, it is not within the jurisdiction of the EACC to probe the members. It is within the mandate of the DPP to investigate the leaders because that was a criminal act,” said Mr Kitiwa.

Lawyer Edwin Sifuna said: “EACC should have come in if what happened in Parliament was about embezzlement of funds or any form of corruption. EACC was formed under Economic Crime and Corruption Act and they should not deal with the conduct of MPs in Parliament.”

But Mr Matemu said the commission will initiate the process of removing from office those who exhibited gross misconduct. “We will take appropriate action including initiating the process of removal from office the state officers who will be found to have failed to adhere to the tenets of leadership and integrity provided for under Chapter Six of the Constitution,” he added.

He also said the commission will investigate unethical conduct by state officers in the county assemblies.