MPs target Speaker Justin Muturi for exposing theft in House

Speaker Justin Muturi

Angry MPs are now plotting to push Speaker Justin Muturi and the nine members of the powerful Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) out of office for the report on fake mileage claims.

The lawmakers defended their perks and said everything was legitimate as PSC and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission had approved them.

They said the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) report revealing the loss of millions through fraud in mileage claims and allowances was an indictment on the commission for allowing loopholes through which public funds were lost.

"Mr Muturi is the chairman of the PSC and the buck stops with him. He and all the commissioners must step aside," Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo said.

Mr Midiwo sits in the House Business Committee which sets the agenda of the House, and therefore his vow to push the commissioners out of office is potent. "If there are people who have stolen, their names must be made public."

Also upset with Muturi (pictured) was Ababu Namwamba (Budalang'i) who said the Speaker and the whole commission had to resign because of the massive rot exposed in Parliament. "They cannot preside over a system where there is massive leakage of public funds and still think they have the moral authority to lead an oversight institution," said Mr Namwamba in an interview with The Standard from Rwanda.

Namwamba who was kicked out of the Public Accounts Committee, said the speaker must have a taste of the "same medicine" that he served his team when there were corruption claims.

Jubilee MP Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) asked: "Where are the names? How do you release such a report without names?"

James Lomenen (Turkana South) and Millie Mabona (Mbita) said the commission had to offer administrative solutions. They said the issues ought to have been explained to the EACC instead of "the noise".

Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni), whose name appeared in the report, said: "I'm surprised that I owe Parliament money yet the money is deducted on payment of salary. The logbook is registered under Parliament. I smell a rat."

During a radio show, Nominated MP Isaac Mwaura admitted there was runaway graft in Parliament and blamed the electorate for not holding their leaders to account.

Speaking from Rwanda, Homabay MP Peter Kaluma argued that the massive graft reported in Parliament is as a result of poor leadership by the commission. "When you talk about false mileage and sitting allowance, it means the lapses witnessed are as a result of incompetencies and lack of vision for the institution," Mr Kaluma said.