- Legislators expressed outrage at the conduct of the CSs, accusing them of treating Parliament with contempt and abdicating their duties.
- On Tuesday, the duo failed to honour a summon by the House Energy committee to discuss the recent increase of pump prices and skyrocketing of electricity bills.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
Senators on Wednesday censured Petroleum CS John Munyes and his Energy counterpart Charles Keter for snubbing their summons to explain the skyrocketing electricity and fuel prices.
In a heated session in the chamber, the legislators expressed outrage at the conduct of the CSs, accusing them of treating Parliament with contempt and abdicating their duties.
On Tuesday, the duo failed to honour a summon by the Senate Energy Committee to discuss the recent increase of the pump prices and the skyrocketing of electricity bills.
Speaker Kenneth Lusaka had last week ordered the committee to summon the two officials to appear in person to explain the unprecedented escalation of the fuel prices.
The no-show triggered anger among the senators with Minority leader James Orengo moving a censure motion to discuss the conduct of the two ministers.
Interestingly, Munyes and Keter are former senators.
“The way Parliament is being treated, if you (CSs) have other business, then that business is more important than the Parliament summons or invitations,” Orengo said while moving the motion.
He added, “Particularly for the Senate, this is becoming a habit that continues to take place unabated and it’s a malfunction that must be corrected.”
The Siaya senator criticised the ministers for failing to show up at a time majority of Kenyans are outraged by the unprecedented increase in fuel prices.
Orengo said the sharp hikes have had ripple adverse effects on the cost of transportation, food prices, cost of electricity and the general economy.
“The Senate expresses its dissatisfaction with the conduct of the two Cabinet secretaries in failing to appear before members to address the urgent issues thereby abdicating their responsibilities as set out in Article 153(3) and (4) of the Constitution.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula said the Cabinet secretaries displayed serious contempt of Parliament.
"Sometimes they may not be available for this or that reason. But in yesterday’s meeting, there was not a single officer. Not even a press officer from any ministry to come and say we are sorry."
"This censure motion may not lead to a vote of no confidence but it is bloat on their character. It’s bloat on their career."
'That indeed they were given a responsibility and it becomes a matter of reference on them that hey snubbed Parliament, abdicated their responsibility, were not responsive to the plight of Kenyans and were unresponsive to their duties and responsibilities,” Wetang'ula said.
The Ford Kenya leader said the high taxes imposed on petroleum products was the cause of the high prices as the government struggles to repay the heavy debt.
As of June 30, the public debt stood at Sh7.7 trillion.
Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki condemned the conduct of the officers, saying the duo should be compelled to appear before the committee.
He recommended that should they fail to show up, the responsible committee should impose a fine on them and invite the Police IG Hillary Mutyambai and DPP Noordin Haji to arrest and drag them to the committee.
“Senator Keter is my friend. Senator Munyes is my friend, but when duty calls, we have no option but to call them out,” Kindiki said.
He added, “I must say that I support the censure of CS Charles Keter of Energy. I support the censure of Petroleum CS Munyes and I support that the duo be condemned to all the attendant consequences that go with the censure.”
“And if they think we are joking, let them play hardball … they must come here. It is no longer a request. It is mandatory,” he said.
Senators Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Makueni) and Amos Wako (Busia) were among those who condemned the conduct of the two officers.
-Edited by SKanyara