Kibaki urged to replace head of Civil Service

By Martin Mutua

Public Accounts Committee chairman Bonny Khalwale wants President Kibaki to confirm Internal Security PS Francis Kimemia as Head of Civil Service or appoint another person.

Khalwale said the committee’s operations had been affected since Kimemia had taken up some of Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura’s duties.

Consequently, the PS cannot do some of his work.

Khalwalwe, who is also MP for Ikolomani, said Kimemia failed to honour a summon by PAC because of other commitments.

The PS had been summoned to answer questions on audit of Internal Security ministry.

Muthaura is recuperating after undergoing heart surgery in South Africa two weeks ago.

"I sympathise with Muthaura’s predicament. Being a doctor I know what it means to undergo a heart surgery because healing is not immediate, but our work must continue," he said.

Khalwale said Kimemia had written to the committee last week saying he would not attend the committee’s meetings for a month.

The MP said PAC had drawn a timetable that would be difficult to amend.

"To go back now and attempt to change this programme will mean to re-arrange the entire programme, which is almost impossible," he said.

Khalwale told President Kibaki to sort out the matter within his Government to avoid paralysing Parliament’s work.

He noted Kibaki once served as the chairman of PAC and knows the intricacies involved.

Khalwale said PAC has over the years lagged behind in making updated reports, adding the PS scenario was frustrating efforts to clear the backlog.

The PAC chairman said the backlog has used in the past to sweep cases of corruption under the carpet.

"This is because by the time the committee gets to deal with the matter the officers involved have been sacked or had retired," he said.

Backlog

He said until the backlog is dealt with the work of PAC as a public watchdog would not be fulfilled.

Khalwale said his committee was moving with speed to clear the backlog of reports that Parliament has witnessed since independence.

He said he would table two reports in the House for debate that of 2006/2007 and 2007 and 2008.

He also appealed to the President and PM to sort out the issue of Leader of Government Business in the House.

The tussle for the position almost paralysed the House early this year after President Kibaki appointed Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to the position only for Prime Minister Raila Odinga also to appoint himself.

House Speaker Kenneth Marende partly broke the stalemate when he assumed the chairmanship.