Drama ensued at a parliamentary committee after chairman refused to summon Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over the deadly Embakasi gas explosion.
Members of the Senate Energy committee accused chairman Wahome Wamatinga of protecting the two officials.
Chirchir snubbed the committee for the second time on grounds that he received a ‘late’ invitation.
He was expected at the meeting alongside Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority director general Daniel Kiptoo on Thursday after failing to appear on Tuesday.
However, it is only Kiptoo who attended the meeting.
The committee is conducting an inquiring into the gas explosion that left 10 people dead and more than 300 others seriously injured.
Wamatinga, who is also the senator for Nyeri, rejected the committee members’ resolve to issue summons to the officers.
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina tried to push him in vain. He instead adjourned the committee prematurely.
“The law is there and for us to get justice for the victims of the fire incident, this committee must issue direct summons to the CS,” Olekina said.
Article 125 of the Constitution gives Parliament and its committees powers to summon any person to appear before it to give evidence or provide information.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna decried Chirchir's casual response to the committee.
He cited article 153(4) of the Constitution that says, a CS shall act in accordance with the Constitution by providing Parliament with full and regular reports concerning matters under their control.
Sifuna said the Embakasi explosion victims and survivors continue to wait for explanations from the government.
“We need the CS to come and explain to us who is responsible for the incident and what happened to the promises made to the survivors," he said.
“This is a clear show of contempt to this committee and we must render fines and issue direct summons to the two officials.”
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who appeared as a friend of the committee, asked Wamatinga to stamp his authority and summon Sakaja and Chirchir to ensure justice to the survivors.
He cautioned the chairman against protecting the two officers just because they are from the same party.
“There are more than 500 people who were affected yet the CS is treating this matter casually. The survivors lack food, shelter and clothes," Owino said.
"This is a lack of humanity and a slap in the face of this committee. It's like the minister is telling us that there is nothing you can do.”
Wajir Senator Mohamed Abass also agreed with his three colleagues that Sakaja and Chirchir should be summoned.
“We are not aligned to any party as a committee. The CS said he has been called to the State House,” Wamatinga said.
The committee wants to establish why the ministry and Epra allowed the gas filling station to operate in a residential area.
Last week, Chirchir casually snubbed the committee informing them that he had traveled abroad.