National Assembly Majority leader, Aden Duale, alleged that President Uhuru Kenyatta was misled into appointing Mwende Mwinzi as ambassador to South Korea.
On Thursday, October 3, Duale took to social media to rant on how parliament rejecting Mwinzi's dual citizenship had forced anonymous persons into blackmailing legislators.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), on Thursday, October 3, announced that it would investigate some public and state officers over the possession of illegal documents related to dual citizenship. Activist Okiya Omtatah Okoiti asked the anti-graft agency to probe the nationality of Kenyan MPs.
"We are also aware the Presidency has also been misled so that it can be put in a collision course with Parliament as a way of fighting back with the hope that the intimidation will yield fruits.
"Section 31 of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 is clear that a person who holds dual citizenship shall upon appointment to a state office not take office before renouncing their other citizenship," Duale ranted.
The Garissa Town MP went on to state that parliament had favoured Mwende Mwinzi in approving her appointment, yet she disappointed them by not denouncing her dual citizenship.
"The National Assembly approved Mwende Mwinzi for appointment hoping she will follow the requirements of the law and renounce her American citizenship. In complete disregard of the law she has acted in bad faith and refused to adhere," he stated.
The Jubilee leader went on to tear into Omtatah and EACC, alleging that they were being used to manipulate parliament.
"Now we are even seeing unconfirmed reports that the so-called "public interest litigators" are alleging that some Members of Parliament including me have dual citizenship.
"This is laughable, a total shame, fake & requires to be treated just as such, total fabrications, generous with falsehoods and economical with truths," Duale tweeted.
He revealed that the fight against Mwinzi was relentless.
"It is a matter of public notoriety that I am a proud Kenyan citizen and I do not hold dual citizenship and I have never held citizenship of another country and will never do.
"Indeed the so-called public interest litigators should have looked for other "clever" ways of arm twisting Parliament. This one falls flat like a flat tyre. As Parliament, we have an obligation to respect, uphold and defend the Constitution. This one we aren't giving up soon. You can take this to the bank!" he declared.
Kenya's ambassador-nominee to South Korea, Mwende Mwinzi, on Wednesday, September 18, also moved to court in a bid to stop Parliament from forcing her to give up her US citizenship.
