Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i got reprieve as the Senate threw out a report linking him to the controversial purchase of Ruaraka land.
Matiang’i, who was the Education Cabinet Secretary at the time of the purchase, was, alongside Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, accused of graft in a case where the state bought its own land.
The senators reportedly walked out of the chambers immediately the Deputy Speaker Kithure Kindiki called for the vote on the report.
However, those who were for the bill quickly accused their counterparts of having been compromised prior to the voting session.
“The Senate is a den of corruption, even senators who appended their signatures to the report were nowhere to be seen,” posed Machakos Senator Boniface Kabaka.
The report had recommended for the investigation of the two suspects and their subsequent prosecution in case they were found guilty.
Only 19 senators were in the house for the vote against a requisite of 24 to successfully pass the bill. 15 voted for the bill hence the deputy speaker termed it as defeated.
The land, now allegedly owned by a businessman identified as Francis Mburu, is at the centre of the scandal in which the accused, alongside the National Land Commission boss Mohammed Swazuri, were to be held accountable over the loss of Kshs1.5 billion.
According to a report by People Daily, Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja was the only member from the jubilee party to vote for the bill whereas Kipchumba Murkomen, Susan Kihika and Gideon Moi voted against it.
Currently, Drive-In primary school and Ruaraka high school sit on the controversial land estimated to measure 13.5 acres.
