Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has come under sharp criticism from senators after failing to appear before the Senate on Wednesday to answer questions on land matters.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi informed the House that Wahome had written to notify the Senate she was out of the country and therefore unable to attend the session.
“Hon. Senators, we expected to have the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Lands for purposes of responding to your questions. Unfortunately, the CS Alice Wahome has written a letter indicating that she is out of the country and therefore will not be able to attend today’s plenary,” Kingi said.
But senators expressed outrage, accusing the CS of showing contempt for Parliament and failing to treat the matter with the urgency it deserved.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot faulted the late communication, saying the CS had undermined the institution.
“This is an institution. You cannot write to us at 7 pm about a meeting that was supposed to happen this morning. I even skipped a retreat chaired by none other than the President to attend this session. Alice Wahome needs to know she is no longer the MP for Kandara, she is a minister for the Republic of Kenya. This is serious contempt against Parliament,” Cheruiyot said.
He urged the House to enforce its earlier resolution that Cabinet Secretaries who skip parliamentary appearances without sufficient cause should face sanctions.
“We had already passed a report in this House stating that failure to honor parliamentary appearances, including question time on important matters, should attract some form of fine. Otherwise, people will continue treating this House with contempt,” Cheruiyot added.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said Wahome’s absence was particularly troubling given the gravity of the land matters under discussion.
“These are serious issues. Nairobi is under attack from land grabbers. We were to raise questions about land in Botela, land in Kasarani, Makadara, and a playground in Buru Buru Phase 5. My expectation was that the CS would treat this matter as urgent,” Sifuna said.
He praised Wahome’s past interventions, including her role in saving Tom Mboya Social Hall from illegal acquisition, but faulted her handling of the current situation.
“If she knew she had to travel, she could have written weeks before or at least sent written responses. Nairobi is under siege. This is not a matter that can wait,” Sifuna added.
The Speaker directed that the Senate Business Committee would reschedule the session to a later date, though senators warned that the trend of Cabinet Secretaries missing appearances risked weakening parliamentary oversight.
