Tempers flared in Parliament where Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe had appeared on Thursday, April 29, to clear his name in the ongoing Ksh 7.8 billion Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) scandal investigations.
Murathe appeared before the National Assembly Public Investments Committee (PIC) to clear his name after he was accused of influencing the tender process, and standing in as a signatory of Kilig Company, accusations he has denied.
MPs and Murathe engaged in a shouting match, with politics and tribal accusations taking centre stage.
The Jubilee Vice-Chairman claimed that Kilig Limited had transferred its ownership to persons aligned with Deputy President William Ruto and that he did not benefit from the Ksh4 billion reportedly awarded to Kilig Ltd.
Murathe also added that the tender process was cancelled, and that he was only a signatory to the bank accounts of Kilig, and his role was to assure that the firm would be paid once the tender process was completed.
PIC Chairman Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, however, argued that Murathe's claims were unsubstantiated despite him presenting letters and other evidence to prove his allegations.
"This is the first time I have seen one company with different bank signatures. One by Murathe another by Ruto's associate. There is more than meets the eye here. I will write to the bank and KEMSA and ask them to provide all evidence as one of these letters indicates that Kilig revived the tender once it was cancelled," MP Nassir said.
At that point, Murathe lost his cool, raised his voice and asked the MP to read all the letters and understand that once the tender was cancelled, he ceased to be a signatory.
Wajir East MP Rashid Kassim, questioned Murathe's motives behind being a signatory, arguing that the Jubilee Vice-Chairman was economical with the truth.
The lawmaker probed Murathe on whether he was aware that he was guaranteeing payment of supply of personal protective equipment (PEPs) worth Ksh 4 billion and that the amount was almost half of KAMSA's Ksh 7.8 billion budget.
"I was not aware of the amount involved. I was not aware that the Ksh4 billion I guaranteed was nearly the whole amount of KEMSA budget. Once the tender was cancelled, I never benefited from any deal," Murathe defended himself and accused the MP of being Ruto associate.
The remarks by Murathe sparked uproar in the house forcing Nassir to call the hearing to order and asked Murathe to apologise. Meanwhile, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who appeared to defend Murathe caused an uproar when he further accused Rashid of incriminating Murathe.
"These MPs are Tanga Tanga and we all know that. MP Rashid is politicising this investigation. He is perceiving Murathe to be guilty yet he is not. I am defending Murathe because the truth is that there was no Ksh4 billion involved in this case, and Murathe was not given any money as claimed," Babu argued before he was called to order.
Earlier on he had attempted preventing other members from expressing themselves and questioning Murathe by interjecting and arguing with the chairman.
MPs, nonetheless, stated that Murathe was aware of the money involved and that he would not have been a signatory without having seen samples of the PEPs involved. They added that they wanted the matter cleared as Kilig had threatened to sue KEMSA over the scandal. They further resolved that they would summon other individuals incriminated in the scandal by Murathe.
"It's very sad that some of us are treated as poster boys of the scandal. I have never supplied any mask and even my relatives are thinking I am a Covid billionaire. People are calling me asking me to give them money," Murathe lamented in his closing remarks, threatening to sue media houses that reportedly tarnished his name.
