Members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee have said they will summon a Star newspaper commentator following an opinion touching on them.
They expressed anger at commentator Benji Ndolo's
article, which was published on
Wednesday, and
distanced themselves from what it claimed.
The PAC is probing the loss of Sh791 million from the National Youth Service; it raised the matter of the opinion during Wednesday's session.
Ndolo's comments were published a day after businessman Ben Gethi appeared before the committee.
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The commentator alleged that members of the PAC and PIC committees are thieves and lack integrity.
He further said the MPs only attended committee sessions to show they are working and to cart away huge allowances.
"...they are not out to seek answers on audit queries," his opinion read in part.
The
committee said the claims were baseless, unfounded and malicious, and noted it
is reputable and that its integrity has
never been questioned.
"The published report by the Star newspaper is not only malicious but puts the integrity of the committee at stake," said vice chairperson Jackson Rop.
Rop reiterated that the committee was committed to transparency as it has been conducting its sessions publicly.
"If there was anything we were hiding, we would not allow you (journalists) into any of our proceedings. It is very perturbing that such non-factual reports can be published without verification," he said.
Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire seconded Rop noting the allegations will taint the reputation of the committee and its members.
"If there is any member who is corrupt, why doesn’t the paper name and shame the individual instead of dragging the name of all members in the mud," he said.
Chairman Nicholas Gumbo said they will not take the allegations lightly and will summon Ndolo to substantiate his claims.
The issue of the malicious publication was brought forth when the watchdog committee met DCI boss Ndegwa Muhoro.
Muhoro presented a criminal investigation report on the scandal.