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Story by NATION Reporter | Parliament

A parliamentary committee accused an MP of attempting to interfere with work it was doing in connection with mobile phone company Safaricom. Mr Justin Muturi (Siakago, Kanu), the chairman of the Public Investment Committee, named Baringo Central MP Gideon Moi, saying he went to a Mombasa hotel to attend one of their meetings without being invited. Mr Moi of Kanu is also the chairman of the parliamentary committee on Energy and Communication.

The MP concurred with another member of the committee, Mr Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi, Narc), that Mr Moi asked them why they were interfering with his business interests. Said Mr Muturi, in Kiswahili: “It is true that the member joined us at Whitesands Hotel, where we were compiling our report, and told us: ‘Mbona mnamwaga mchanga kwa chakula changu? (Why are you soiling my food?’) The issues was first raised by the Kanduyi MP during debate on the PIC’s report on State Corporations (2007).

Withdraw remark

An attempt by Mr Samuel Poghisio (Kacheliba, Kanu) to have the temporary deputy Speaker, Mr Maoka Maore (Ntonyiri, Kanu) to order Mr Wamunyinyi to substantiate or withdraw the remark failed. Mr Maore said Mr Moi had the right to issue a personal statement in the House. Mr Moi was not in at the time.

Earlier, MPs who had demanded that Finance minister Amos Kimunya reveal the shady directors of Mobitelea, which is said to own five per cent shares of Vodafone, a shareholder of Safaricom. But the minister declined to address the controversy about Safaricom, saying it was the most profitable company in East and Central Africa. Mr Kimunya added that there was a case pending in the High Court over the proposed initial public offer of Safaricom shares, whose ruling is expected today. A handful of members, who included three Cabinet minister, passed the PIC report.