Nakuru East MP David Gikaria has been given until 1.30pm on Monday to appear before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee after failing to honour an earlier summons.
The committee, chaired by Dr Alutalala Mukhwana, adjourned the proceedings after the legislator sent his personal assistant, Joseph Kariuki Nelima, to represent him.
In his ruling, Dr Mukhwana said the committee was not convinced that the representative had provided sufficient grounds to justify proceeding in Mr Gikaria's absence.
“We are not satisfied that the gentleman before us has adequately persuaded us to undertake what it is that he seeks us to undertake. For that reason, we are ordering that this committee adjourn now in the interest of giving Hon. Gikaria a fair opportunity to be heard,” Dr Mukhwana ruled.
He said the committee would reconvene at 1.30pm and expected the MP to appear in person, warning that it would not condone failure to comply with lawful summonses.
“This committee warns that it will not tolerate any attempt by any person who has been duly and lawfully summoned to disregard its proceedings,” he said.
Mr Gikaria is accused of breaching the Electoral Code of Conduct during campaigns for the ongoing Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
According to the complaint before the committee, the MP allegedly engaged in voter bribery while campaigning for United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga.
Through his personal assistant, Mr Gikaria told the committee that he was unwell and had a medical appointment that coincided with the hearing.
“IEBC has not served me properly. I only learnt about the summons through social media. The commission should follow the law. I am unwell and had a doctor's appointment,” Mr Gikaria said in a phone interview.
The committee adjourned the matter to 1.30pm when it is expected to determine the next course of action should the MP fail to appear.
