{UAH} Standard Digital News - Kenya : MP sets stage for removal of Charity Ngilu from office over illegal appointments

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000097017&story_title=mp-sets-stage-for-removal-of-ngilu-from-office-over-illegal-appointments

Standard Digital News - Kenya : MP sets stage for removal of Charity Ngilu from office over illegal appointments

By Geoffrey Mosoku

Nairobi, Kenya: Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu's woes in Parliament piled up last evening after an MP filed an amendment to a probe report designed to set the stage for her removal from office.

If the National Assembly upholds the amendment to the report that condemns Ngilu for making illegal appointments, it would open the door for MPs to kick the Lands Cabinet Secretary out of the Cabinet.

Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi wants the House to resolve that Ngilu should take "full responsibility for the unconstitutional, illegal, irregular and unprocedural acts of creating offices and making arbitrary appointments, promotions, transfers of staff in the ministry."

Wandayi also wants Ngilu to be held to account for any undesired consequences such as, but not limited to, financial loss that may arise from the aforementioned act of commission on her part.

Last night, the MP was under pressure from his colleagues in the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) not to introduce the amendments.

After the National Assembly adjourned at 6.30pm, Wandayi was mobbed by several MPs who were overheard asking him to drop the amendments.

"These people want to finish me; corruption is a very bad thing. They want me to withdraw the amendment but I will not do that," Wandayi said.

This was part of the drama that is promising to unfold in the House this afternoon when MPs resume debate.

Imminent acrimony 

The first sign of imminent acrimony emerged when an attempt by Mbooni MP Michael Kisoi to link Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari to three companies that do business with the Ministry of Lands was thwarted, as he could not substantiate the claims.

Gitari had raised the question in the National Assembly on the unilateral appointment of Peter Kahuho as Director General in the Ministry of Lands by Ngilu, that became the subject of the investigations.

House Speaker Justin Muturi ordered Kisoi to withdraw and apologise to Gitari after he failed to link him to the three companies, which he alleged were involved in massive corruption in the Ministry of Lands.

Kisoi had claimed that the Kirinyaga Central MP, who is also vice-chairman of the Delegated Legislation Committee that jointly probed the matter, had an interest, which he (Gitari) had failed to declare.

The joint committees of Delegated Legislation and Lands want recent appointments by Ngilu revoked, as they did not follow the laid down procedures.

Baringo North MP William Cheptumo, who moved the motion, told the House that the two committees had established that Ngilu had ignored various statutes and institutions and had acted unilaterally.

Kajiado West MP Moses ole Sakuda, who seconded the motion, said there was a breach of the Constitution, which amounts to grave violation of the supreme law.

Sakuda said there was a disrespect of some of the constitutional bodies such as NLC and PSC in effecting the changes.

Mbita MP John Mbadi faulted Ngilu for transferring Director of Survey Ephantus Murage and his Deputy Boaz Owino in an unlawful manner. The two were replaced by Cesare Mbaria and Julius Rotich.

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Standard Digital News - Kenya : MP sets stage for removal of Charity Ngilu from office over illegal appointments

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000097017&story_title=mp-sets-stage-for-removal-of-ngilu-from-office-over-illegal-appointment‎