Bribery, political witch-hunt cited in report rejection by MPs

IEBC commissioner Boya Molu and Chairman Wafula Chebukati in Nairobi on November 26, 2018. [Photo, File]

Rejection of the recommendations to sack electoral agency bosses has triggered talk of political witch-hunt and poor report writing by MPs.

Some MPs admitted that most reports indicting State officers were being rejected by the House after claims that the committees were being used for "political witch-hunt."

Claims of MPs receiving bribes to frustrate reports implicating top State officers have also been cited.

Last Thursday, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi ruled against sections of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report that recommended the sacking of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu.

The report had indicted the three on claims of misappropriating of taxpayers' money during the 2017 General Election.

But Mr Muturi ruled that it was not within the mandate of the committee to recommend removal of the commissioners since Article 251 of the Constitution stated that a commissioner could only be removed from office through a petition to the National Assembly.

It was not the first time a committee report was being rejected by the House. Last year MPs successfully rescued three Cabinet Secretaries from possible ouster.

The Senate also rescued another Cabinet Secretary by absconding a sitting to deny the House the requisite numbers.

Last week, there were protests by some MPs on the floor of the House over claims that the Health Committee had tabled two sets of reports on an issue that touched on the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board.

Different recommendations

The two reports had different recommendations. Yesterday, National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi also poked holes on some of the reports tabled in Parliament.

“We have seen cases where some officers are indicted while others are protected by the committees,” said Mr Mbadi.

He further admitted that some reports were poorly done, with findings and recommendations not reconciling.

“Sometimes the findings do not tally with the recommendations, but are put there to achieve political missions,” he said.

Citing the PAC report on IEBC, Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairperson William Cheptumo (Baringo North) and Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) said some reports fell short of expectations.

“The committee was right in its findings, but veered off in its recommendations,” said Mr Cheptumo.

He said the committee should have recommended further investigations.

Barasa claimed some committees had allowed themselves to be used for political battles.

“PAC went outside its mandate to come up with such recommendations,” he said.

But Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu said the Speaker's ruling saved the PAC report from being rejected entirely.

“Some members wanted to use the issue of constitutionality to reject the entire report,” he said.