Interior CS Fred Matiang’i was given a taste of his own medicine after his meeting with MPs was called off due to lack of quorum.
CS Matiang’i had assembled his team at Harambee House for the virtual meeting on March 24 but MPs were a no-show.
The legislators from the National Assembly Committee on Administration and National Security now say that they skipped the meeting to teach the CS a lesson.
Kitui Central MP Makali Muli said that for the last three years and a half of trying to secure an audience with the Ministry of Interior, the CS had shown up less than three times.
“The only time PS Karanja Kibicho comes with a full team is when we are discussing the budget. When we are discussing matters as important as questions from MPs they are never there,” he added.
Kisumu Woman Rep Rosa Buyu regretted that the committee had to call off past meetings with the Interior Ministry at the very last minute without explanations from the CS.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has faulted the ministry over their responses and directed Majority Leader Amos Kimunya and Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe to convene a meeting between the MPs and the ministry to discuss future engagement with Parliament.
“A little bit discouraged that our meeting today by the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and National Security aborted due to lack of quorum, but we are more than ready to respond to the honourable members' questions and concerns as soon as they invite us again,” PS Kibicho stated after the aborted meeting.
The 18-member committee deals with issues of national security, police service, home affairs, public administration, public service, prisons, immigration and the management of natural disasters, community service orders.
The committee which is chaired by Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange had summoned the CS due to concerns of rising cases of insecurity and criminal activities.
This is not the first time the two arms of government have attempted to mend their rocky relationship.
In October 2020, CS Matiang’i committed to improving the relationship between Cabinet Secretaries and Parliament after a meeting with the Senate Liaison Committee.
