Nipate
Forum => Kenya Discussion => Topic started by: Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants on March 23, 2015, 05:22:43 PM
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When Midiwo and Duale are united, Wanjiku is doubly screwed. It has to be when two people with no moral authority to speak on corruption come together. Midiwo and Duale as the "voices against corruption" is a national disaster.
The fate of the Public Accounts Committee chaired by Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba appears sealed after two key House leaders called for its disbandment.
Leader of the Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale and deputy Leader of the Minority Jakoyo Midiwo said PAC, as presently constituted, should be dissolved and political parties allowed to choose new members.
“PAC is a key oversight committee whose integrity is now in question. As presently constituted, it should not be allowed to continue conducting any parliamentary business,” said Mr Duale.
Mr Midiwo, who belongs to the same coalition as the embattled PAC chairman, said the committee was an important organ of the House, and as “Ceaser’s wife should be above reproach”.
The two were speaking when they appeared before the Powers and Privileges committee, which has been tasked by Speaker Justin Muturi to investigate bribery allegations in the PAC and give recommendations for adoption by the House.
PAC members are accused of receiving Sh1.5 million from Defence PS Mutea Iringo, with members including vice-chairperson and Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire, reportedly pocketed Sh200,000, so as to write a favourable report for the executive.
Both Mr Iringo and Ms Mbarire, as well as other members who were reportedly compromised, have denied culpability.
Mr Namwamba equally denied reports that he took bribes, and he instead produced recordings of a meeting also attended by Cord leader Raila Odinga, in which details of how the committee members were bribed are laid bare.
(READ: How millions were wasted on PAC trips that failed to yield reports)
LEADERSHIP HAS TO CHANGE
However, Mr Duale on Wednesday said the fact that some MPs in the committee had voted to keep Mr Namwamba as chairman did not exonerate him from blame, and that Parliament had to stamp its feet in ensuring committees tainted by graft were dissolved.
He also criticized political leaders for defending those accused of engaging in corruption, on account that they were from their coalition or community, saying graft had to be fought regardless of who was involved.
“For corruption and impunity to be eliminated in this country, the political leadership has to change,” he said.
Mr Midiwo said MPs had lost the incentive to act with integrity and in the interests of those who elected them. He said Parliament began sinking in 2010, when the Constitution came into being, as leaders did not appreciate the integrity requirements anchored in the law.
Asked by privileges committee chairman Sammy Cheboi how he proposed Parliament could deal with graft bedevilling it, Mr Duale suggested additional powers to the team to investigate financial dealings of MPs within Parliament.
“Corruption coming out of the House is both a bad and good thing. It is good because the 40 days (of a thief) are over and we are finally scratching the surface of corruption,” he said.
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The saying is: When two demons agree on anything, righteous men must seek God in a hurry!
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Is there an integrity committee in parliament or its free for all?
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The argument by MPs is that everybody is eating and eating using the powers and position they have been given. Civil servants under Uhuru have never had it so nice. So the MPs are maximizing their opportunities.
Chapter Six is dead everywhere. Besides one needs a robust institution to enforce ethics and standards. EACC has failed and it is a joke to expect thieves to police fellow thieves.
What may eventually work is to multiply investigative bodies with cross cutting jurisdictions. The US, UK etc have multiple bodies who in fact end up spying on each other and competing for attention.
However between me and you it is the mwananchi. The day he stops glorifying thieves and instead shames them is the day this thing will slow down.
Is there an integrity committee in parliament or its free for all?
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The argument by MPs is that everybody is eating and eating using the powers and position they have been given. Civil servants under Uhuru have never had it so nice. So the MPs are maximizing their opportunities.
Chapter Six is dead everywhere. Besides one needs a robust institution to enforce ethics and standards. EACC has failed and it is a joke to expect thieves to police fellow thieves.
What may eventually work is to multiply investigative bodies with cross cutting jurisdictions. The US, UK etc have multiple bodies who in fact end up spying on each other and competing for attention.
However between me and you it is the mwananchi. The day he stops glorifying thieves and instead shames them is the day this thing will slow down.
Is there an integrity committee in parliament or its free for all?
Omollo,
I am convinced even declaring corruption a capital offense won't change the Kenyan politician or power broker. It will just raise the stakes. Shifting more power to eat to the judges. In Kenya is a cultural problem.
One option might be to consider outsourcing the handling of corruption cases to external entities. Some foreign country.