The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner-General Humphrey Wattanga risks a Sh500,000 fine for skipping a meeting to discuss equal opportunities in employment in the State agency.
The Senate committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration turned away top officials sent by the taxman to represent the commissioner-general in the meeting.
Committee chairperson and Mandera Senator Mohamed Chute dismissed a letter sent by Mr Wattanga nominating Ms Nancy Ng’etich, the acting commissioner of corporate services to represent him in the deliberations.
Senator Chute said the letter simply stated that Mr Wattanga is “attending an urgent matter” without further explanation.
“We normally meet with Cabinet Secretaries or Principal Secretaries. We invited the commissioner-general who is an accounting officer and not an acting commissioner,” Mr Chute said.
“It is important that commissioner-general appears in subsequent meeting, otherwise we will issue summonses and a personal fine of Sh500,000.”
Mr Wattanga was required to present the ethnic composition of all KRA staff, the status of employment of youth, women and persons with disabilities, and the access to government procurement opportunities.
The committee linked the employment audits to broader youth grievances over exclusion that fuelled the June 25, 2024, protests.
The committee, pursuant to a resolution of the Senate, mandated the team to inquire into employment opportunities following the incursion of Parliament by Gen-Z.
Youthful demonstrators stormed Parliament to protest against tax proposals contained in the contentious Finance Bill 2024.
In a protest dubbed “Occupy Parliament,” the Gen-Z gained entry into the Senate and National Assembly chambers, prompting MPs to evacuate.
The youthful protesters had targeted about 204 MPs who voted to endorse the Finance Bill, 2024 through its second reading. The Bill was later withdrawn after President William Ruto refused to assent to it.
Nominated Senator Betty Montet said it was unfortunate that Mr Wattanga skipped the meeting, leading to the adjournment of the session.
“The KRA is a very important organisation and many Kenyans are waiting to see whether there is a face of Kenya in its employment,” Ms Montet said.
“These officers should go back and inform the commissioner-general to tell us when he will be available to appear before this committee.”
Busia Senator Okiya Omutatah and Lamu counterpart Joseph Kamau agreed with Ms Montet and demanded that the commissioner-general put on record the reasons behind his failure to appear before the committee.
“You have heard what my members have said. You have heard people blaming the House that we take bribes and look the other way,” Mr Chute said.
Mr Chute was responding to President William Ruto’s claims on Monday that alleged some MPs pocketed Sh10m to pass anti-money laundering law.
Dr Ruto had told a joint Parliamentary Group Meeting of the ruling Kenya Kwanza and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) that the Senate had demanded up to Sh150 million to impeach governors.
The President and ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga told the MPs that corruption in Parliament was no longer acceptable.
Dr Ruto did not substantiate the bribery or extortion claims and no formal investigation into these claims has been announced as of publication time.
The Senate County Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, has challenged the National Assembly and Senate speakers, Moses Wetangula and Amason Kingi, to invoke Article 125 of the Constitution and invite Dr Ruto to shed light on claims of bribery within Parliament.
Mr Chute said the committee is implementing the House resolution to ensure equal opportunities for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
“In 2024, youth staged an uprising because of the issues of unemployment. We will issue another invitation to the Commissioner General and if he fails, we issue a summons and impose the fine,” Mr Chute said.
“We have been meeting entities for the past one year and we want to table our report, including the findings of the KRA.”
“We will take back your sentiments to the commissioner-general,” Ms Ng’etich told senators.
The committee's strict adherence to protocol was further evident when Mr Chute also adjourned a separate meeting with the Geothermal Development Company Managing Director Paul Ngugi after the company tabled documents on equal opportunity before the session commenced.
Mr Ngugi apologised for the anomaly, saying the GDC received the invitation letter last Friday and did not have enough time to prepare responses and forward to the committee in advance.
“We apologise. It was an oversight. We didn't do so intentionally. I believe that it is unfair to prosecute the matter when you have not looked at the documents,” Mr Ngugi said before the meeting was adjourned.
