Lawmakers express outrage at EACC for harambee extortion claim

NAIROBI, KENYA: MPs have reacted with fury after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission accused them of runaway extortion.

The EACC wrote to the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi telling him that MPs were moving from office to office seeking money to contribute at harambees.

"We have received reports that some MPs are indeed soliciting contributions from Government institutions, in total disregard of the law," read the letter by the EACC secretary Halakhe Waqo.

The EACC warned the MPs they risk prosecution if they kept on pushing parastatals to give them money to contribute at harambees.

The commission reminded the lawmakers that the Leadership and Integrity Act and the Public Officers and Ethics Act prohibited State officers, and MPs are among them, from trying to solicit money to contribute at these events.

EACC said the law also prohibits a public officer from using his official position in any way to exert pressure to obtain money to send to the fundraisers.

The MPs cried foul saying their constituents expected them to contribute money and vowed to disobey the letter.

UNFAIRLY TARGETED

Majority Leader Aden Duale led the onslaught saying there was nothing wrong with the MPs contributing to development projects in their constituencies. He said it was part of the Kenyan culture and political philanthropy for MPs to help the society build churches and schools.

MPs were particularly angry the EACC had singled them out for censure claiming other public officers also engaged in fundraisers.

"EACC should tell us what is unethical about me assisting my constituents. The letter should be treated with the contempt that it deserves. It is not worth the paper it is written on. We as members participate in corporate social responsibility," said Florence Kajuju (Meru).

Section 18 (1) of the Leadership and integrity Act 2012 bars State officers from soliciting for contributions from the public unless in case of a national disaster.

"The harambee spirit is captured in our Coat of Arms," said Asman Kamama (Tiaty).

Muturi said the letter was discriminatory as it unfairly targets MPs. "The late Ali Mazrui in his writings said there is a thin line between soliciting and reciprocal goodwill. This is selective application. The letter assumes that MPs are the only State officers who conduct harambees," said the Speaker.

Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok North) said MPs have to account for the millions they give at harambees.

"You have someone contributing Sh15 million per week, we have to know the source of that money because we know our salaries," said Kenta.

Although a task force chaired by former assistant minister Koigi wa Wamwere banned harambees, the law only bars State officers from participating in the fundraisers "in a way that reflects adversely on the State officers' integrity, impartiality or interferes with the performance of the official duties".

"Let the author of that letter and all those who think with him, know that we have disobeyed," said Olago Oluoch (Kisumu Town West).