SIX MEMBERS REPLACED AS PAC RECONSTITUTED

SIX MEMBERS REPLACED AS PAC RECONSTITUTED

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 21 – The Parliamentary Selection Committee has reconstituted the Public Accounts Committee formerly chaired by Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba after parliament adopted the recommendations of the Powers and Privileges Committee to disband it following wrangles between members.

Five members of the previous committee were sanctioned by the Privileges Committee after they failed to substantiate corruption allegations they made against each other in the February 26 committee sitting, causing its activities to be suspended.

In the new order Namwamba will be replaced by Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu, Abbas Mohammed (Ijara) by Balambala’s Abdikadir Aden, Omondi Anyanga(Nyatike) to be replaced by Rarieda’s Nicholas Gumbo while Samuel Arama (Nakuru Town West) will be replaced by Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire.

Arama was among four CORD MPs who had been de-whipped by the party after being branded as ‘rebels’ after they vowed to work with the Jubilee administration. They were later reinstated.

READ: Committee blacklists Ababu, 4 others from PAC

In the Jubilee wing, Majority Aden Duale said the names of the previous members would remain the same except for former vice chairperson Cecily Mbarire(Runyenjes) who will be replaced by Kieni MP Kanini Kega while Kesses legislator James Bett will be replaced by Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen.

The names of the proposed members will be tabled before the House on Wednesday and will hold their first sitting on Thursday to elect the chairperson and vice chairperson.

The battle for the position of chairperson will be between Gumbo, Bosire and Simiyu as Aden who hails from northern Kenya is likely to be ruled out since already another legislator from the region – Eldas MP Adan Keynan – chairs the Public Investments Committee.

Some legislators are opposed to the proposal to replace Namwamba with Simiyu who hails from Ford Kenya insisting that the replacement should come from ODM, thereby vouching for Funyula MP Paul Otuoma.

It has been close to two months since the Public Accounts Committee was suspended, and it is expected that as soon as the new committee is formed they will get to work to complete the pending investigations including a crucial one on the forensic audit of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.