Three of President William Ruto’s ministers are at loggerheads with MPs who have accused them of being the new faces of Executive impunity.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Trade and Industrialisation minister Lee Kinyanjui and his Lands and Housing counterpart, Alice Wahome, have had run-ins with senators for either snubbing plenary or committee invites.
John Mbadi the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The Senate has summoned Mr Mbadi — the most notorious — and vowed to initiate a censure motion against him. Earlier this month, the former Suba South MP snubbed the Senate once again, saying “he is busy with other engagements”.
Mr Mbadi failed to answer questions concerning his ministry, only informing the House of his absence through a letter — 30 minutes to the start of the sittings.
The minister had also not appeared before the Senate Finance and Budget Committee, opting to attend a political rally in Migori, Homa Bay County in the company of President William Ruto . Later after the event, he had an interview with a local television station.
Two months ago, lawmakers warned the CS to stop treating the Senate as a village “baraza” where he can decide whether to appear or not.
This was after he failed to honour an invitation by the Senate Finance and Budget Committee on the consideration of budget policy statements and medium term debt management strategies. He told the committee to refer to the responses that he had shared with a similar committee of the National Assembly.
Last week, Lands CS Wahome was in the eye of a storm for snubbing a Senate committee for a record seven times.
Cabinet Secretary Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Alice Wahome.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
The Senate Lands Committee chaired by Mombasa lawmaker, Mohammed Faki, had summoned the minister to respond to seven petitions touching on issues of land, pollution and eviction of squatters across the country.
The legislators accused the former Kandara MP of treating them with contempt and derailing their work.
“A summon is higher than an invite. So we have summoned her,” said the Mombasa senator.
“Kenyans have many problems affecting them, especially on matters of land. Her failure to attend the meeting is affecting many people. If you give an old man with no teeth sugarcane to chew, it is no longer a gift but contempt. We are not happy that she has failed to attend,” Kirinyaga Senator James Murango said.
In a bid to make amends, Ms Wahome pleaded with the committee to let her appear before it any day between May 12 and May 15.
Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
CS Kinyanjui has also faced two summonses by the Senate Trade Committee after snubbing the panel chaired by Kwale Senator Issa Juma, claiming he had prior engagement.
In his defence, the CS pleaded for leniency, saying he was fairly new in the docket and had a lot of work in terms of transition.
“I apologise for the situation and I promise it will not happen again in future,” said the former Nakuru governor.
The Senate has, in particular, been embroiled in a tussle with certain CSs over their failure to appear before the House or committees to answer questions.
Breathing fire, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has called on senators to invoke provisions of its Standing Order 51(d) to begin the process of censuring the “rogue” minister.
He described the letter written to the Senate by CS Mbadi as contemptuous, as it does not even indicate the reason why he was absent.
Mr Kingi said the letter, dated May 6, was received at 9am, just 30 minutes to the start of the Wednesday morning sitting, only indicating he will not be in a position to attend the session as he has other official engagements.
The Standing Order provides that if a cabinet secretary fails to appear and respond to questions in the Senate without reasonable cause, the Senate can move a motion to censure the CS.
“You (senators) have a weapon to handle such kind of errant ministers according to Standing Order 51(d) of the Senate to send a clear message to the Executive,” said Mr Kingi.
“Time has come for you to invoke the provisions of the Standing Order and move a censure motion so that this Senate can regain its respect and ministers can acknowledge that this is a House that speaks for and on behalf of the people,” he added.
The former Kilifi governor recalled how sometime back the Senate Wednesday morning session almost collapsed as the House had to adjourn question time because no minister appeared before them.
“We have talked, lamented and vented our frustrations enough. It is time you invoke the Standing Order and move an official censure motion against some of the ministers so that we can see some seriousness going forward,” said the Speaker.
“The minister did the same thing to us on Tuesday in the Finance and Budget Committee. He was clever by half, claiming that he was attending a Cabinet meeting yet he was in a rally in Migori. Something must be done. This is arrogance of the highest level,” said Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.
Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana added: “It is highly disrespectful, and such ministers must be called to order. Shame on such ministers.”
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna called out Mr Mbadi, saying a minister must write in good time that they will not be appearing before the House, and not at the last minute.
“If a minister decides to write a day to the meeting, then that is absolute contempt and they must be called out. John Mbadi must know that, as a House, we are unhappy that he has time to attend rallies and television interviews but no time for us,” said the ODM secretary-general.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo added that questions asked before the House are critical and there is no way a minister can just wake up and say they have other engagements.
“We also have other engagements but we are here. This is the time for action and we want to see that action. We should amend our Standing Orders to surcharge ministers who don’t excuse themselves three days before the date to appear before the House,” said Ms Dullo.
