National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining chairperson MP Vincent Musyoka./HANDOUT
Members of the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining sent away senior officials who appeared before them without their bosses.
The officials were from the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, together with those from the Nuclear Power and Energy Authority (NuPEA) and the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA).
At the start of the sitting with stakeholders to discuss various issues around the disputed Uyombo Nuclear Plant in Kilifi North Constituency of Kilifi County, the officers from the three State Agencies pointed out to the Committee that PS Festus Ng'eno, the Chief Executive Officer of NuPEA Justus Wabuyabo, and his counterpart from KNRA, James C. Keter, were absent due to other commitments.
The Committee dismissed the message from the three bosses, which were accompanied by apology letters.
Chairperson Vincent Musyoka termed it disrespectful to the Committee, and a waste of public resources and time.
"They should have communicated early enough for us to readjust; therefore, listening to the mood of the House, this meeting cannot continue without the PS and the two CEOs", said Musyoka, who is also the MP for Mwala Constituency.
"Chair, this must come with some cost, the Nuclear project has not started and yet the CEO NuPEA cannot honour our invite, writes a mere letter and skips this exercise,” said vice chairperson Charles Kamuren.
“He must apprise us on the extent of public participation to this project. The last time we visited Uyombo, locals were not happy with the police. We don't know how far the National Environmental Management Authority have gone on due diligence.”
The lawmakers pointed out that they can only achieve what they want in the presence of the PS.
"I therefore rule that we cannot proceed to listen to the officers sent here. This meeting can only happen if the three leaders are here. We are giving you another chance, but at your cost. We can as well charge you or issue a warrant of arrest for wasting Parliament's time and resources,” Musyoka warned.
Kilifi County MP Gertrude Mbeyu claimed that the leaders were in a cat and mouse game, hiding from both the Committee and the people of Uyombo.
