National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has issued a stern warning to Members of Parliament against misconduct during committee sessions following allegations of bribery and other concerns raised by Leader of Majority Aden Duale.
Speaking on Wednesday, Muturi ordered that harsh consequences, including removal from committees, would be taken against lawmakers found guilty of bribery and other offenses,
According to Duale, some MPs have been attending sessions as friends of committee locking out rightful members due to greed for money.
He lamented: "It is worrying that some members pack rooms leaving actual members with no places to sit. Imagine a committee with only the chair and friends who have no vote.
[caption caption="Garissa Township MP Aden Duale addressing the press"]
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"Sittings have become a parade where you cannot distinguish witnesses, suspects, and MPs. We have seen these members on live television hugging, embracing and exchanging pleasantries with accused persons who appear before them. This has left the public with a negative perception," Duale added.
Reiterating Duale's sentiments, Minority leader John Mbadi stated that committee sessions ought to follow the guidelines laid out by the plenary.
"The craving for media attention is doing members more (harm than good). MPs have resorted to rent-seeking missions and turn rowdy during committee proceedings," Mbadi commented.
Mbadi noted that Kieni MP Kanini Kega, who is the chairperson of the Trade and Investment committee, failed to take charge of the joint committee on Trade and Agriculture that is probing the sugar scam.
The Suba South MP exclaimed: "He allowed members to become rowdy. They started exchanging words as suspects watched while folding their hands. How could he, yet there is the possibility that the sugar being consumed by millions of Kenyans is poisonous?
"How do you go to a committee and become so emotional that you defend a CS as if you work for his or her docket? We have allowed money to change hands so that we can defend these CSs," the legislator noted.
[caption caption="Suba South MP John Mbadi"]
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In his address, Muturi stated that its unfortunate that MPs acted in such manner directing departmental committees to prepare lists of members who have been missing committee sessions for possible disciplinary action.
Muturi cautioned the MPs against becoming emotional and defending cabinet secretaries and other people who appear before them.
"You have no business defending people appearing before you. Let them speak for themselves as at the end of the day, you act as judges who determine the next courses of action," he added.
