• DCI, EACC yet to commence investigations three months after House adopted report
• It is not clear if Parliament has invited the EACC and DCI to investigate allegations by a section of MPs that some received bribes
Image: FILE
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Directorate of Criminal Investigations are on the spot over the delayed probe of 10 MPs and sugar bribery claims.
In November last year, the National Assembly adopted the report of the committee on Powers and Privileges that said money may have changed hands on the eve of the vote on the report on contraband sugar. The report was shot down.
The embarrassing report had recommended that Treasury CS Henry Rotich, EAC CS Adan Mohamed and former Agriculture CS Willy Bett be held accountable for sugar flooding the country.
Almost three and half months down the line, there is no action by the two agencies despite earlier reports that detectives from DCI had visited Parliament for a preliminary probe.
Yesterday chairman of Implementation Committee Moitalel Ole Kenta told the Star that his committee will follow up. "We have 60 days as a committee, from the day the report is adopted, to ensure House resolutions are implemented. I will have to check how far we have gone on this matter," he told the Star on phone.
It is not clear if Parliament has invited the EACC and DCI to investigate allegations by a section of MPs that some received bribes in August to reject the report on the importation of illegal and contaminated sugar.
Speaker Justin Muturi had earlier told the Star the House did its part and it is up to the Committee on Implementation to ensure the EACC and the DCI act on the resolutions they made.
Based on the oral submissions by the witnesses, it is apparent that some members may have been involved in some form of impropriety,”Report
“The report is normally forwarded to the agencies to act,” Muturi told the Star in December.
The MPs amended a House report to have the EACC and the DCI narrow down their investigations to only 10 MPs.
“Based on the oral submissions by the witnesses, it is apparent that some members may have been involved in some form of impropriety,” the report says.
During investigations by the Muturi-led team, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa told the committee he saw Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi giving out Sh10,000 to MPs to influence them to vote in a particular way.
He claimed Gedi offered him an envelope during a plenary sitting but he rejected it “because his conscience could not allow”.
The first-time legislator also told the team that Sirisia MP John Waluke witnessed Gedi attempting to bribe him.
Both Gedi and Waluke denied the claims when they appeared before the committee.
Gedi said she never had any interactions before with Barasa and she had only learnt of him through the media when he made the allegations against her.
Matayos MP Geoffrey Odanga told the team that Kuresoi South MP Joseph Tonui informed him that Sh20,000 was being given out to members.
Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba said she noticed unusual movements among members in the lounge and lobby before the sitting in which the sugar report was considered.
Wamuchomba said she did not see Gedi give out bribes.
The other MPs who appeared before the committee included Samuel Atandi (Alego Usonga), Ayub Savula (Lugari) and Makokha Murunga (Matungu).
Others were Simba Arati (Dagoretti North), James K’Oyoo (Muhoroni), Jane Kihara (Naivasha) and Nyeri Woman Representative Rahab Mukami.