Jubilee MPs gang up to throw out Ruto’s ‘hustler jet’ report

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MPs debated the content of the report last week and when it came to voting Tuesday evening, Jubilee lawmakers voted through acclamation to defeat it.

Jubilee MPs on Tuesday evening threw out a special audit report on the irregular procurement of a private luxury jet that flew Deputy President William Ruto to four West African countries in May 2013.

The MPs, including members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), who had earlier scrutinised the report and even made recommendations to the House, voted to reject it.

In May 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta invoked an executive order for direct procurement of a jet to fly Mr Ruto and his entourage to four West African nations.

Mr Ruto represented the President in a trip to Congo, Gabon, Nigeria and Ghana which raised controversy after reports indicated the private jet hire may have cost taxpayers Sh100 million.

PAC ordered auditor-general Edward Ouko to conduct a forensic audit on the hire of the plane belonging to VistaJet. During the probe, it emerged that VistaJet quoted Sh18.5 million inclusive of taxes, Lady Lori asked for Sh19.7 million, while ABM Aviation charged Sh19.2 million exclusive of VAT and other fees.

The committee said the process that led to the hiring of the jet was an intricate and tightly knit scheme that violated procurement procedures.

PAC accused the DP’s suspended Chief of Staff Marianne Kitany of being complicit in the matter and attempting to cover up by transferring staff who were involved in the process.

MPs debated the content of the report last week and when it came to voting Tuesday evening, Jubilee lawmakers voted through acclamation to defeat it.

Suba MP John Mbadi (ODM) and his Ugunja counterpart Opiyo Wandai (ODM) questioned the motive of some PAC members in rejecting a report they appended their signatures to before it was tabled in the House for debate, adoption or rejection.

“Why would the entire membership of the committee reject a report they appended their signature to?” Mr Mbadi asked as Mr Wandai sought the speaker’s ruling saying the rejection of the report, “which is at the heart of a corruption probe” would set a wrong precedent.

“The House has voted and the Speaker has no vote. Once a matter has been decided on by the House, we go by that. As to the conscience of committee members who sign reports and change their mind afterwards, the committee is the best place to canvass the matter,’’ said Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso.