Friday, September 7, 2012

MPs want Khalwale sanctioned over bribery claims



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Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale during a pst news conference in Parliament Buildings. MPs want House Speaker Kenneth Marende to sanction Dr Khalwale for claiming that his colleagues were bribed to "kill a report" September 6, 2012.
Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale during a pst news conference in Parliament Buildings. MPs want House Speaker Kenneth Marende to sanction Dr Khalwale for claiming that his colleagues were bribed to "kill a report" September 6, 2012.  NATION MEDIA GROUP
By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU ashiundu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, September 6  2012 at  18:34
MPs want House Speaker Kenneth Marende to sanction Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale for claiming that his colleagues were bribed to "kill a report".
On Tuesday, Parliament rejected the report of the Public Accounts Committee, which revealed a Sh1.8 billion loss as a result of a controversial money-printing contract.
The MPs also absolved Transport minister Amos Kimunya and Central Bank Governor Njuguna Ndung'u of blame.
On Thursday, the lawmakers said the allegations that they had been paid to throw out the report had cast aspersions on their dignity. They said the Speaker had to intervene so that their standing in the eyes of the public is restored.
The MPs turned their ire on Dr Khalwale saying he ought to be “punished” for “tarnishing” the name of the august House. They pleaded innocence, with some terming the claims that they were bribed with Sh30,000 to reject the report “as a joke and an insult”.
John Mbadi (Gwassi) raised the matter with the Speaker.
Speak out of turn
He got the support of Cabinet ministers Njeru Githae, Amos Kimunya, Dalmas Otieno; assistant ministers Gideon Ndambuki, Joseph Nkaissery,  Margaret Wanjiru, David Musila and Peter Munya.
Other MPs were Yusuf Hassan (Kamukunji), Adan Duale (Dujis), Ekwee Ethuro (Turkana Central), Thomas Mwadeghu (Wundanyi) and Rachel Shebesh (nominated).
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Danson Mungatana (Garsen) questioned why Dr Khalwale, who has been “outstanding” in the House “had this one time spoken out of turn”.
The Garsen MP asked his colleagues to “forgive” Dr Khalwale, because this was the first time he had made the allegations.
“We’ve served with Dr Khalwale for two terms. He’s been a chairman of this House committee all that time. He’s moved very good and important Bills, and he’s done very good things. The talk to journalists (about bribery in Parliament on the De La Rue controversy) was out-of-turn. When one of us makes a mistake, let’s get him on the right path. Two wrongs do not make it right,” said Mr Mungatana.
The Garsen MP added: “This is the first time that Dr Khalwale has done this. Find it in your heart (to forgive him). Let’s not take a very hard stance.”
But Speaker Kenneth Marende did not submit to the MPs demands. Instead, just as he’s done in the past when matters of corruption came to the fore, the Speaker referred the matters to the Powers and Privileges Committee.
“This is a very grave matter. I would not understand why the MP for Ikolomani would stray from a normal path to a matter as murky as this,” said Mr Marende.
He said the committee will take appropriate action on Dr Khalwale, if there’s evidence that indeed he uttered those statements.
“We’ll go the full hog. If he’s innocent, that will be fine. If he has evidence that is also fine. But he has to be prepared to live with the consequences if he’s got no evidence,” the Speaker ruled.
The MPs’ complaints were fast and furious before the Speaker's ruling.
“I am spending my time and energy as an upright citizen working for my constituency…If these allegations of bribery are left out there in the public, the assumption is that we’re all guilty of what has been said against us, whether rightly or wrongly,” said Mr Hassan.
Mr Mwadeghu added: “In all my life as an accountant, I have never been involved in bribery. To be placed in one basket with the bribe-takers, reduces the standing of the House and that of my constituents. If we walk in town, we’re seen as corrupt; when you drive, it’s as if you fuelled your car with bribe money. Please take action, so that those of us who’re upright are cleansed.”
Destroy careers
That was also the cry of Mr Musila, who said that the allegations of bribery in Parliament had gone on unchallenged for far too long and was bound to destroy their careers.
“For over 45 years in public service, I have never taken a bribe. This morning, I noticed when I was entering the bank, people were whispering and looking at me,” said Mr Musila.
But Mr Githae said the allegations of bribery should be taken as “simply rumour-mongering”.
“This is the African disease. If you lose an election, you’re rigged out;  if you die, you’re be-witched,” said Mr Githae.
“Even when you ordered that MPs should go to the police and make statements on those who were taking bribes, they never bothered. The matter was just wished away. I think we should just ignore Dr Khalwale,” said Mr Githae.
Mr Otieno said Dr Khalwale ought to be censured so that people learn to trust the decisions of Parliament. He said the bribe was little and that every MP “knows that they cannot survive in their constituencies with such amounts”.
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"This is a very serious matter. It is politics extended to very low levels and too far. It cannot be an excuse that the member was just joking. Some of us handle very large amounts on behalf our clients; some of us spend a lot of time preparing to get the support of members…this cannot be trashed by a colleague joking just after losing a motion,” said Mr Otieno.
The matter, after it’s investigated, will be brought to the House for approval and sanctions will be levelled if Dr Khalwale is found guilty.

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