These allegations dented the image of the Senate, which saw a detailed report exposing the rot in the sale of the land shot down in the House.
The Senate has over the years prided itself as the House of repute. However, the latest fights over committee membership has exposed the senators’ selfish interests at the expense of the electorate.
Kajwang’ said the ongoing fights besmirch the image of the Senate as an institution.
“Kenyans look up to the Senate as the ‘adult’ in the room and expect it to offer sober reflection on issues. This crisis will serve well the detractors of Senate as well as crooks in counties. The earlier we solve it the better,” said Kajwang’.
Chilling tales from governors both serving and former, depict a damming situation, which has increased senators' appetite to oust them. The county chiefs claim they are forced to part with cash to save themselves from grilling at the dreaded committee in responding to audit queries.
Claims of a "toll station" at a hotel near Parliament precincts has been talk for a while by irked senators, even in the leadership WhatsApp group. It is claimed that governors negotiate their tough cases from this station and eventually come out with a clean bill of health.
“These people are for the take. It’s a shop. They sit five days in a week. Six hours a day,” said a senator angered by his colleagues’ behaviour.
Some committee members, it is said, have dedicated their whole parliamentary service to the committee, so much so that they have neglected other committees they serve in either as members or chairs.
Mithika Linturi (Meru), the immediate former vice chair of CPAIC, who is still a member of the committee, exonerated himself from the extortionist claims, saying it would be unfortunate if there are members extorting.
“I voted for Senator Ole Kina because he was the only one willing to take on Raila so that we don’t have a chair who will be taking orders from outside. I have never received a coin to influence my decision,” said Linturi.
Mohamed Faki (Mombasa), another member of the committee, said, “I cannot confirm but the objective of the committee is to insulate public funds from wanton theft."
Yesterday, National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi told Sunday Standard that members need to respect their parties as is the practice all over the world.
(By Wilfred Ayaga, Jacob Ngetich and Rawlings Otieno)
