Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi has issued new rules to Members of Parliament who are in the various house committees.
Speaking to the lawmakers on Thursday, Muturi barred MPs from ushering in or escorting witnesses summoned by House committees for investigations.
He asserted that the lawmakers should always relate with witnesses called before committees strictly at "arm's length."
Additionally, Muturi affirmed that the duties of escorting witnesses squarely rest with the secretariat or the sergeant-at-arms.
[caption caption="West Kenya Sugar company Chairman Jaswant Rai chat with the National Assembly Agriculture and Trade Joint Committees members"]
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Muturi also directed that the committees should not invite any person to appear before them if they are under investigations or are being charged in court and prosecution has started.
MPs could only be allowed to summon a person facing charges in court if there is new information different from that being prosecuted in court.
"Members have to remember at all times that the aim of an interrogation is to bring out or reveal information relevant to the matter under consideration by the Committee. Coercion, intimidation, and embracing of witnesses rarely aid this objective," Muturi exclaimed.
Following Igembe North MP Maoka Maore's queries to the house on the scope of investigatory functions of the Committees of Parliament, Muturi spelled out the new rules.
Earlier this month, Muturi warned MPs against being 'too cosy' with persons summoned by House Committee during investigations, adding that committee meetings should not appear to be a 'sanitising exercise.'
The speaker was addressing complains after MPs were captured sharing light moments with witnesses during the probe of contraband sugar by a joint committee of Trade and Agriculture.
[caption caption="Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi"]
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