National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has given a green light for the de-whipping of Public Petition Committee’s chairperson Nimrod Mbai.
Speaker Wetangula directed the Majority and Minority Leaders in the house to consider reconstituting the committee due to the continued absence of its members.
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“I have instructed the Majority and Minority Leaders in the House to consider reconstituting the Public Petition Committee due to the continued absence of its members led by their Chairperson in the House to handle pertinent matters from petitioners.” Wetangula wrote on twitter.
Wetangula gave the directive after the committee members led by the chairperson Nimrod Mbai failed to appear in the House raising concern.
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The National Assembly speaker decried that the committee was doing a disservice to Kenyans as their petitions were not being addressed.
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He added that it has caused a backlog of petitions that have not been dispensed.
“The persistent absence of the Committee’s Members has stalled the Business of the Committee and led to a backlog of petitions that have not been dispensed.” He further wrote.
According to Wetangula, Mbai and his Members were notorious for skipping House sessions where they were expected to handle pertinent Committee matters.
“There are so many petitions pending before this Committee and if this situation continues, I ask the Majority or Minority Leaders to consider reconstituting this Committee so that it can serve the public effectively,” he said.
“I don’t believe the public is being properly served to have many petitions committed to the Committee and nothing comes back to the House”. added Speaker Wetang’ula. He added.
Wandayi, Ichung’wah, Second Wetangula
The National Assembly Leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi reiterated Wetangula’s sentiments saying it is not the first time the House leadership has been raising concern over the perpetual absence from the House by the leadership of the Committee.
According to Wandayi , the situation had become worse as the membership had also started becoming absent.
Wandayi noted that Public Petitions Committee is one whose leadership should be permanently in the house, or its membership should be proactive so that it can deal with the very many petitions that are of utmost concern to the public.
“I think it is the right time to deal with this matter once and for all because as things stand this is the Committee that has got the highest number of issues that come to the floor of this House every other day and needs committed Members to address them,” stated Wandayi.
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Furthermore, the Leader of Majority Party Kimani Ichung’wah while echoing the speaker’s sentiments stated that members have the liberty to impeach the Chairperson and elect another Member to lead them.
“I will be very available to ensure that happens because that is the only way to make sure that when you take up a responsibility as a chairperson or Vice of a Committee, you should be available in the House and in your committee to take charge,” he said.
He regretted that despite some Members lobbying to be selected and voted for as Chairs and vice chairs of Committees during the Parliamentary Group meetings, they had forgotten that such key positions comes with responsibility.
