Speaker Justin Muturi leads MPs in Coast retreat over integrity issues

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi says decorum issues will be addressed during their annual retreat. (Photo:File/Standard)

Mombasa, Kenya: The National Assembly leadership is meeting in Mombasa to address integrity of the House, internal wrangling and claims of bribery which has dogged it lately.

Speaker Justin Muturi and Clerk Justin Bundi set the agenda rolling during the fourth annual retreat of the National Assembly leadership in calling for self-reflection among MPs, amid widespread claims of bribery and leadership wrangles.

“In my many years of service in the National Assembly, I have never seen a spirited campaign to replace chairs of departmental committees,” Said Bundi.

The Clerk warned that the 11th Parliament was at its midlife crisis and must stand up to restore order and integrity in the management of committee affairs.

The MPs are meeting at a Mombasa hotel in the week that saw Public Accounts Committee Chair Ababu Namwamba survive an ouster by a whisker over allegations of bribery and doctoring of reports.

Speaker challenged MPs to be united in resolving challenges facing the House and remain committed to serving Kenyans.

“This retreat comes at the beginning of the third session and we have a constitutional obligation on oversight of government functions. We must address decorum issues too,” Muturi said.

Bundi raised concerns with increased tendency to holding camera hearings by MPs with the exclusion of secretariat a matter that raised suspicion.

MPs present at the retreat include Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso, David Were, Chris Wamalwa, Jakoyo Midiwo, Francis Nyenze, Adan Keynan, Rachael Shebesh, Njoroge Baiya, John Serut and David Ochieng.