Gumbo: PAC will be above suspicion like Caesar's wife

Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo (left) who was elected PAC chairman and the new Vice Chairman Kipkelion West MP Jackson Rop address a press conference at Parliament Buildings yesterday. [PHOTO: GOVEDI ATSUSA/STANDARD]

Kenya: A reluctance in the ranks of the Opposition to back the candidature of ODM Chairman John Mbadi to chair the National Assembly’s powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC) appears to have worked in favour of the eventual winner, Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, with some help from Jubilee MPs.

Although the voting was by secret ballot, Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) MPs in the committee told The Standard the Opposition coalition had no position on a preferred candidate, yet it was clear prior to the ballot that Mbadi was ODM party leader Raila Odinga’s choice.