House committee summons Kimunya in newspaper notice

Parliament has taken the desperate step of serving former Transport minister Amos Kimunya with newspaper summons to appear before a committee investigating the standard gauge railway contracts.

The Public Investments Committee (PIC) Tuesday instructed National Assembly clerk Justin Bundi to substitute the official summons with newspaper notices Wednesday morning.

“I direct that a copy of this summon be scanned and forwarded to the former minister through his official email address. I also direct the clerk of the assembly to advertise the same in a local newspaper with national circulation to appear tomorrow (Wednesday),” PIC chairman Adan Keynan said.

Mr Kimunya used the email to notify Parliament that his appearance would “be of little use” in the inquiry into the Sh448 billion project, referring the MPs to statements by President Uhuru and public officials.

The notices will require the former minister to appear before the PIC Thursday after snubbing it last week on Wednesday, prompting the issuance of the summons.

“We have been informed that the Sergeant-at-Arms and officers from Parliament police station cannot trace the minister at his official residence and at his offices,” Mr Keynan added.

Chief Sergeant-at-Arms Alloys Lekulo will report to the committee Wednesday morning whether Mr Kimunya has been summoned.

READ: Kimunya risks arrest after snubbing railway probe team

Nominated MP Oburu Oginga demanded that PIC invokes its power to order the arrest of Mr Kimunya for contempt of Parliament.

A similar threat was made when he did not honour summons to appear before the committee on January 23, arguing that the information sought related to documents not in the possession of a private citizen like him.

On Tuesday, the committee threatened to invoke articles 125, 94 and 95 of the Constitution to “compel his appearance.”

“We will not hesitate to invoke provisions of the Evidence Act to issue a warrant of arrest. We only want to be prudent at this preliminary stage,” Mr Keynan said. The committee has the same powers as those of the High Court.

If the warrant is issued against Mr Kimunya, he risks a six month jail term or Sh2,000 fine or both, according to the Powers and Privileges Act of Parliament.

The PIC is investigating how China Road and Bridge was awarded the tender to build the 609-km rail between Mombasa and Nairobi without competitive bidding after Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter said the cost was inflated.