{UAH} Pojim/WBK: HOW NAMWAMBA SURVIVED COUP | The Star

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/how-namwamba-survived-coup

HOW NAMWAMBA SURVIVED COUP | The Star

PUBLIC Accounts Committee chairman Ababu Namwamba yesterday pulled a fast one on PAC members when he threatened to produce evidence that his accusers took bribes.

Ababu walked into the meeting and shocked his colleagues when he threatened to play audio recordings of some of them who had confessed to receiving bribes.

"He was very smart as he faced his accusers. When he threatened to play the audio, many of his accusers went quiet and when the vote was called Ababu won," said a member of the committee.

In a session that took more than four hours and was marred by accusations and counter-accusations, the members lacked the requisite numbers to vote Ababu out, as 13 of the 24 members present voted by secret ballot against him and nine supported him, with two abstaining.

The Standing Orders require that at least 50 per cent plus one of the 27-member committee are required to force through a no-confidence vote against the chairman.

The grounds of the petition included corruption allegations against the chairman, but, according to a committee member, "Namwamba was equally armed with a dossier of his own, as he accused his accusers of engaging in high-level corruption activities".

However, Namwamba's survival may be short-lived, as Suba MP John Mbadi (Cord) has vowed to move a motion in the House to have the committee disbanded.

"It's about the image of the House. Thirteen members voting to remove the chairman is not very good, because it has created animosity among the members, going by the allegations made," Mbadi, who supported Namwamba in the voting, said.

He said that it was a serious matter against a watchdog committee that required quick decisive action to sanitise the image of the House.

If the committee is disbanded, Majority leader Aden Duale, who chairs the House Committee on Selection, will be required to constitute another committee in consultation with the party whips.

"I toyed with the idea of resigning from the committee, but it was not going to be helpful. Am wondering how we will transact our business, going by the exchanges and name-calling witnessed in the meeting. It went personal, beyond the norm," Mbadi said, adding that "even if none of us comes back, so be it".

Committee vice-chairperson Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes) and Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime abstained. Two others were absent.

It remains unclear why Mbarire sobbed in the corridors of Parliament as a number of fellow MPs tried to calm her, immediately after the verdict.

Those who voted in Namwamba's support, according Mbadi, included Sakwa Bunyasi (Jubilee, Nambale), Joseph Manje (Jubilee, Kajiado North) and Manson Nyamweya (Cord, South Mugirango).

The others are Jessica Mbalu (Cord, Kibwezi East), Katatha Maweu (Independent, Kangundo), Charles Geni (Cord, North Mugirango), and Alice Chae (Cord, Nyamira County Women's Rep).

Other Cord MPs in the committee, such as Junet Mohamed (Suna East) and Mohamed Abbas (Ijara) may have voted with the Jubilee side to remove Namwamba against the directive of their party leader that they support the embattled chairman.

The Ijara MP, who was among the forces behind the no-confidence vote, disclosed that he will start the process to remove the chairman afresh.

"This matter has just begun. The House rules that require that if a motion is defeated on the floor of the House it must wait for six months before it is reintroduced does not apply in the case of committees. We are meeting on Tuesday next week to sign another petition," Abbas said.

But there are those who view the move by Abbas as malicious and meant to scuttle the affairs of the committee.

HOW NAMWAMBA SURVIVED COUP | The Star
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/how-namwamba-survived-coup‎

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