The stage is set for a bruising battle in the House after President Uhuru Kenyatta rejected a crucial amendment that sought to sack the Ethics and Anti-Corruption secretariat top executives.
A number of MPs are saying that the President, by rejecting clause 6 of the Ethics and Anti-corruption (Amendment) Bill 2015, had created more confusion in the fight against graft and had provided more arsenal to the purveyors of the vice.
The MPs have threatened to shoot down the President's recommendation that the current secretariat bosses be vetted afresh, despite a rule that requires them to raise a three-thirds majority in the House to veto the recommendation.
"The President is introducing legislation in the House through the back-door. There are vested interests in protecting the current secretariat," said Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, who last month sought the directions of the House on the extent to which the President can participate in legislation. The President rejected an amendment by Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa that had sought to have the current EACC secretariat bosses Halakhe Waqo and his deputy Michael Mubea serve in an acting capacity until new commissioners are sworn in.
The President instead recommended they be vetted afresh, opening a window for their return to Integrity Centre. He recommended a one-year period within which the current staff of the secretariat should be vetted by commissioners to be interviewed by the Public Service Commission and appointed by the President.
These recommendations have angered MPs, who are now spoiling for a fight.
"Both Waqo and Mubea are already implicated in integrity issues. They have lost the goodwill the public had in them in fighting graft. Why would they be given the chance to return to the commission?" asked Sirisia MP John Waluke.
MPs opposed to the recommendations said they would "shoot down those recommendations" and would not agree "to be a rubber stamp of the Executive on matters related to the EACC".
Majority Leader Aden Duale yesterday challenged those opposed to the recommendations to raise the numbers if they want to overturn the recommendations.
"Anyone who has issues with the recommendations must be prepared to raise the two-thirds majority. It is this Parliament that sent home the EACC commissioners. Now we want to send home the secretariat. Who then will we then be oversighting?" he asked.
Duale said the introduction of the amendment to the EACC Act was a case of "corruption fighting back" and wondered why some MPs want the current secretariat kicked out.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join