Sunday, June 23, 2013

Defence Committee wants chairman out

Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY DAVID MWERE AND GIDEON KETER
Members of the Defence and Foreign Relations committee of the National Assembly are plotting to pass a vote of no confidence in their chairman.
Members want Tetu MP Ndungu Gethenji replaced, accusing him of poor leadership and high-handedness.The unhappiness with the Gethenji emerged yesterday during the vetting of the Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary nominee Karanja Kibicho.
Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa wanted to know whether Kibicho had applied for the job when it was advertised and whether he was interviewed by the Public Service Commission.
Media reports and a court petition had earlier indicated the nominee had not applied.Gethenji, however, stoked controversy when he ruled the question inadmissible and directed Kibicho not to respond.
The Tetu MP cited a communication from the High Court and the PSC as the basis to exempt Kibicho from answering the question.  However, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo dismissed the documents tabled before the committee as irrelevant to the question asked.
Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari protested the ruling and cited standing order number 89. “He needs to tell Kenyans whether he applied or not. Denying the members the right to information on frivolous explanations is against the constitution,” Gitari said. Kibicho said he wanted to respond.
“I was applicant number 86 and the records are very clear. The confusion arose when I was left out of the shortlist. But with my credentials, I felt that it was wrong so I successfully appealed against the omission and my name was later included in the list that was sent the President for consideration,” Kibicho told the committee.
Elsewhere, Education Principal Secretary nominee Belio Kipsang promised to end teachers' strikes and streamline the management of education.
He said that the lap top project is achievable and he will work to see the project is implemented.At some point, the Committee on Education Research and Technology under the chairmanship had a hard time reaching consensus on whether to disclose the allegations which Kenya Ethics and Anti corruption had investigated against him.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-125262/defence-committee-wants-chairman-out#sthash.pe8qrCv5.dpuf

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