Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i will not appear before the parliamentary committee to explain the ongoing sugar scandal.
According to a letter sent by the Interior PS Karanja Kibicho to Speaker Justin Muturi, by honouring the summon, Matiang’i will jeopardise police investigations.
In his letter, Kibicho indicated that the matters raised by the joint committee were under probe by the National Police Service.
[caption caption="Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i "]
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"An open and detailed deliberation on these matters will prejudice not only the persons who are the subject of these investigations but also the investigation processes.
"It would fall short of the Bill of Rights and other Statutes of Parliament that offer guidance on how investigations should be undertaken," the letter read.
Besides, the PS indicated that his boss is actively involved in the ongoing East Africa Heads of States meeting hence his schedule may not allow him to appear before parliament.
Kibicho further warned of a possible prejudice delivery of justice due to the "concurrent jurisdiction overlaps amongst the committees of Parliament and the law enforcement agencies."
The committee co-chaired by MP Kanini Kega (Kieni) and Adan Haji (Mandera South) had threatened to issue summons against Matiang'i if he failed to appear before the committee for the third time.
Cautioning over the possibility of derailing the ongoing investigations, Kibicho indicated "For instance, under Act 245 (2) (b), the police are required to perform their functions independently and judiciously, and thus the Ministry may not substantively speak on matters they are fully seized of until the latter conclude their task and submit a suitable report."
The PS, however, promised that the Ministry will instead table a comprehensive report once the investigations are complete "In keeping with the law, the ministry will submit a report to Parliament through these committees on the matter at hand."
[caption caption="Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i "]
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Mating’i had earlier indicated that the impounded contraband sugar contained mercury, a report the Kenya Bureau of Standards contradicted indicating that the tested sugar only has high levels of copper and lead metals.
