Petitioner wants Swazuri removed from office over fraud

National Land Commission chair Muhamad Swazuri. /ELKANA JACOB
National Land Commission chair Muhamad Swazuri. /ELKANA JACOB

MPs have received a petition seeking the removal of NLC chair Muhammad Swazuri for violation of the constitution.

The petitioner, Mugo Njeru, has accused Swazuri of defrauding his wife (not named) of an unspecified amount of money she had been awarded as compensation by NLC.

Swazuri is on the spot for allegedly revoking the woman's title deed in favour of another company.

Njeru said Swazuri has used his position to enrich himself and wants Parliament to investigate him.

The matter has been forwarded to the Lands committee chaired by Alex Muiru for consideration.

The committee is expected to invite Njeru, Swazuri and a number of witnesses for probing, before tabling a report in the National Assembly if sufficient grounds are met.

The NLC chair holds an Independent Constitutional Office and can only be removed by a tribunal.

The petition comes at a time when Parliament's Finance committee suspended its probe into the conduct of Auditor General Edward Ouko following a court order.

The High Court ruled that the committee's probe should be set aside until a case filed in court by Ouko challenging the panel's procedures is heard on May 10.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi said they will obey the orders as its lawyers move to the Court of Appeal to challenge it.

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