Jubilee Party MPs have demanded that the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) should strip former Senate Leader of Minority Moses Wetang’ula of the privileges that come with the position.
The MPs also want former National Super Alliance (NASA) whips and their principal assistants stripped of their erstwhile powers and privileges, which include an official car fuelled by the taxpayer.
They are also accorded furnished offices by PSC, enhanced security and office staff, besides being paid responsibility allowances.
But Jubilee is arguing that since the Opposition has not yet brought to Parliament a list of leaders, the former holders of those positions should surrender their privileges.
Leader of Majority Aden Duale told the House that he had seen Mr Wetang’ula still using his official vehicle yet he had not been named as the holder of the office in the 12th Parliament.
GK vehicle
“I have seen Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula still using the GK vehicle assigned to him when he was the minority leader. We want you to give a ruling on why he and other leaders are still enjoying these privileges,” said Mr Duale.
He asked Speaker Justin Muturi to give a directive as the chairman of the PSC that the former leaders should not hold on to the privileges until they have complied with Article 108 of the Constitution and Standing Orders 19 and 20 that stipulate the special entitlements for these leaders.
“No one has appointed Wetang’ula as a minority leader,” he said.
The Garissa Township MP said the continued use of these facilities raised a serious audit query that would be borne by PSC, hence the need by the Speaker to give direction on the matter.
Mr Muturi said although he could not give a ruling on Wetang’ula’s case because he was not a member of the National Assembly, he would handle the matter administratively, indicating that he would call on the former NASA coalition leaders to surrender the facilities.
The Jubilee MPs also accused their Opposition counterparts of practising dishonesty in the House. They said NASA MPs were only going to the House to sign the attendance register before walking out.
NASA lawmakers
The Opposition has stated that NASA lawmakers will not participate in parliamentary proceedings.
But Jubilee has described this behaviour as hypocrisy and double speak, and is questioning why the Opposition legislators were turning up in the House to sign the register.
The party accused NASA MPs of being more keen to be on the House payroll than in executing their mandate.
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa said the NASA leaders’ actions were not only dishonest but also amounted to abuse of powers and privileges given to MPs.
Mr Ichung’wa called on the Speaker to decisively act on any legislator who misses eight consecutive sittings.
The law requires the speaker to declare an MP’s seat vacant if the member misses eight consecutive sittings without written permission from the speaker.
Muturi agreed to make public the names of MPs who have attended the four sessions of House sittings held so far.
“The request to have the list made public has a constitutional foundation,” he ruled.
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