Representatives from the Transport Ministry were turned away from Health Committee of the National Assembly hearing held on Wednesday, September 2,
Transport CS James Macharia had been scheduled to appear before the select committee alongside his Health counterpart Mutahi Kagwe to explain the saga surrounding Chinese billionaire Jack Ma's missing Covid-19 donation.
However, CS Macharia was unable to appear, and sent his apologies citing sickness as the reason behind his no-show.
The chair of the special committee Sabina Chege said that it was in order for transport CS to send a representative in his stead and directed the proceedings.
CS Kagwe interjected during this period and stated that he ha been in touch with CS Macharia and reiterated that his colleague was indeed unwell.
The Transport officials that appeared before the parliamentary committee were: CAS Christopher Obure, PS Solomon Kitungu, Director Government Clearing Agency Felix Aten and Special Advisor to CS Macharia, Joe Mutugu.
However, upon questioning by the various legislators including Starehe MP Charles Njagua, it was ruled that they were ill prepared.
"The answer given by Transport CAS Obure is quite vague. At best he terms it as escapist and not to the point," the Starehe MP stated when the CAS failed to specify the exact number of medical kits that were donated by the Chinese billionaire.
CAS Obure rectified his earlier omission and revealed that the quantity of the detection kits were 11,300 kits. On the second waybill number, the consignment was 274 packages of various items of medical supplies.
He further stated that a representative from the Ministry of Health verified the items and confirmed that they consistent with what was dispatched through Ethiopian Airlines.
"The other consignment was in respect to assorted medical supplies, 697 packages. This was received and dispatched on 24th May. However, on this consignment 21 packages were short landed. Up to this moment, this has not been accounted for by Ethiopian Airlines," he added.
When asked to share the documentation to authenticate the figures, he stated that the ministry would furnish the house with the requisite papers the following day at 9:30 a.m.
It was at this point that Cherangani MP Joshua Kutuny advised the Committee to dismiss the Transport Ministry officials.
"I will appeal that any institution of government invited here, if they know that they're not prepared enough they need to go back and prepare. So then we avoid all these grey areas," he stated.
The Special Committee went on to question CS Kagwe on the controversial KEMSA scam scandal that was brought to light following an investigative feature aired on NTV.
CS Kagwe started off by making it clear that the clearance of any government donations fell squarely the hands of the Ministry of Transport.
