National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has invited the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate corruption allegations in parliament.
Parliament has come under fire after claims emerged that some MPs received kickbacks of between Ksh.10,000 and Ksh.30,000 to reject the contraband sugar probe report last Thursday.
The report was prepared by the joint committees of Trade and Industry as well as that of Agriculture.
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Muturi, has summoned MPs quoted in a section of the media accusing colleagues of receiving bribes and directed them to record official statements.
"My office and the House leadership, in general, takes the bribery allegations within the precincts of Parliament very, very seriously and this must be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action taken pursuant to provisions of relevant statutes," he remarked.
Muturi instructed the Clerk of the National Assembly to write to the legislators inviting them to share their testimonies with the Powers and Privileges Committee.
The committee will then review the information to ascertain the possibilities of breach of privilege by way of unethical conduct on the part of specific MPs.
“The committee will upon evaluation of the testimonies may consider inviting the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to conclusively handle the investigations with the view to taking necessary action against any member found culpable of this grossly unethical conduct,” stated the speaker.
A section of legislators led by Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati had claimed their colleagues received bribes to save Treasury CS Henry Rotich and former Industrialisation CS Adan Mohamed who had been implicated in the sugar scandal.
Additionally, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa accused Wajir County MP Fatuma Gedi of bribing Members of Parliament.
According to Barasa, Gedi is alleged to have attempted to bribe him, Sirisia MP John Waluke and other lawmakers to have them back the rejection of the report.
[caption caption="Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa addressing members of public"]
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