Finance committee writes to Petroleum PS Kamau over failure to honour summons

Energy and Petroleum PS Andrew Kamau before the Departmental committee on Finance and National Planning. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Members of Parliament probing the high cost of fuel have summoned Energy and Petroleum Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau after he failed to appear before the National Assembly Finance and National Planning Committee.

The committee ordered that the PS appears before it on Thursday by 10 am.

Kamau was lined up for grilling over high demurrage charges.

The Committee revealed that taxpayers paid a total of Sh1.3 billion between January and June in demurrage charges.

In average, Sh30 million is paid to every ship over delays to clear the vessels at the port.

The Committee chaired by Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga met on Wednesday and sought for a seven-day extension to probe the charges that have a direct link to the retail price for fuel.

Some members claimed there could be collision to occasion the delay so as to benefit certain individuals in the chain.

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