Bumula MP Jack Wamboka is set to challenge his suspension from the chairmanship of the National Assembly committee on Public Investments (PIC) Governance and Education over bribery allegations following complaints by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
Mr Wamboka notes that he was suspended from chairing the committee for 45 days unheard and without evidence after deputy speaker announced the decision following complaints by Homabay Town MP Peter Kaluma.
Mr Kaluma, who sits in the chairperson’s committee also known as the speaker’s panel, flew out to Singapore immediately he moved the House to suspend Mr Wamboka as the chairperson of the House, a move that was openly opposed by the members led by South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro, the majority whip in the House.
Homa-Bay town MP Peter Opondo Kaluma.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“The hurry with which they moved to suspend me from the chairmanship of the committee raises questions. I was not given time to defend myself, which goes against the principles of fair administrative action,” said Mr Wamboka.
Similar allegations were made against the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) by a section of county governors who demanded removal of four Senators from the committee.
But Senate Speaker stood firm and demanded that the county governors substantiate their claims with evidence filed to the Clerk’s office for the Senate Powers and Privileges Committee to act.
In the 11th parliament, then Speaker Justin Muturi dissolved the membership of PAC and announced its reconstitution after the House adopted the report of the Powers and Privileges Committee that investigated the matter.
“I will challenge the matter in court even if it means going all the way to the Supreme Court,” he added.
Interestingly, Mr Wamboka’s suspension came just minutes after the House had adopted his committee’s report on the audited accounts of the NCIC, which had raised serious issues.
They include unauthorized over-expenditure, unauthorized overdrawing of bank accounts, irregular change of employment terms by the former NCIC commissioners and irregular payment of legal fees among others.
Speaker Wetang’ula was, technically not in the House at the time, just like when Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi was suspended from the precincts of Parliament for saying that parliament was an “auction”.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
In a ruling issued by deputy speaker Gladys Boss, Mr Wamboka was ordered to step aside from the oversight sittings pending investigations into allegations of intimidation and harassment leveled against him.
“Hon Wamboka will not chair the committee during the period. I direct that the leader of Minority party nominates an interim chairperson,” Ms Boss read the communication.
“Allegations made against the chairperson of a committee of this House pose a grave threat to the public trust bestowed upon this House and its members. Such claims must be addressed “with urgency and transparency while observing the dictates of the Constitution on fair hearing and due process,” she added.
In the July 23, 2025 letter to the Speaker, then NCIC Chairperson raised issues of a lack of integrity in the conduct of business by the named Committee and seeks your intervention to secure the sanctity of parliamentary oversight.
“I am worried that these concerns if not adequately investigated and addressed will completely disable the Parliament of Kenya in the discharge of its oversight mandate under the constitution,” Mr Kaluma told the House.
However, Mr Wamboka described his suspension as selective for a committee that has 15 members. He said that singling him out was discriminatory as it’s the committee members who make decisions “and not me as an individual.”
The Bumula MP also wondered why similar decisions have not been made in response to such complaints against the other House committees.
This even as Nation established that 22 letters of complaint have been written against Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, 13 against Public Investments Committee (PIC) on Commercial Affairs and Energy and eight against PIC on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture.
Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly Gladys Shollei.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Ms Boss further directed that Mr Wamboka appears before an expanded Powers and Privileges Committee to respond to the claims.
The deputy speaker co-opted MPs Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), Sarah Korere (Laikipia North) and Robert Gichimu (Gichugu) into the committee
As part of the changes, the Minority leadership was given until today to nominate an acting chairperson to steer the PIC in Wamboka’s absence.
The Committee currently has Kasipul MP Boyd Were, who was elected in the November 27, 2025 by-election, as the vice chairperson.
The move follows mounting concerns from NCIC over alleged misconduct within the committee, raising fresh questions about accountability and ethical standards in parliamentary oversight bodies.
The NCIC former chairperson Dr Samuel Kobia had written to the Speaker questioning the conduct of the Bumula lawmaker.
“In the letter, the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia notes open hostility, harassment and demeaning treatment of officers of the NCIC by the Chairperson.”
