Speaker suspends Ababu team operations in probe

The Speaker of the National Assembly has suspended the operations of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) pending an inquiry into allegations of corruption.

Justin Muturi directed the Committee on Powers and Privileges to investigate the claims and report to the House within 21 days.

The PAC, led by Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba, has been dogged with infighting over the fate of several of its investigative reports with claims of bribery and extortion to alter or misplace key documents.

Mr Muturi invoked the provisions of Standing Order 1, to suspend the operations of PAC until the expiry of 21 days or such an earlier time the House shall make a resolution on the matter.

The Speaker clarified that the suspension of PAC business did not mean disbandment of the committee.

“It follows therefore that the work and the reports of the Public Accounts Committee must of essence maintain the values of accountability, integrity and reliability, and latitude of independence from any person or authority,” he said in a ruling sought by Majority Leader Aden Duale.

Mr Muturi cited provisions of the Constitution, Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, the Public Officers and Ethics Act, 2003 and National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act in arriving at his ruling.

Last week, Mr Namwamba narrowly survived a vote to remove him as PAC chairman.

Following the vote, several MPs called for the immediate disbandment of the House team.

The suspension of PAC business means that its reports on the procurement of biometric voter registration kits by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the special audit of the Judicial Service Commission will stall.

It also paralyses the committee’s core mandate of scrutinising government books of accounts as queried by Auditor General Edward Ouko. PAC is currently awaiting Dr Ouko’s report on government accounts for 2013/14 financial year.

In suspending the operations of the committee, Mr Muturi appointed first temporary deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi to chair the Powers and Privileges Committee that will interrogate PAC members, including Mr Namwamba.

Mr Muturi who chairs the Powers and Privileges Committee directed the team to table its report within 21 days. Thereafter, the House will have three days to discuss the report and make a decision on its recommendations.

“May I also remind the committee that, given the seriousness of an allegation of bribery, the standard of proof required to substantiate the claims ought to be very high,” the Speaker said.

The committee, which is also tasked with drafting a code of conduct for MPs, holds its first meeting on Monday.

The PAC members wanted Mr Namwamba out over allegations of taking bribes to change reports of the House team in favour of those under investigations. However, the PAC chairman has denied the claims.