Members of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have declined the nomination of Saboti MP Caleb Amisi to succeed John Mbadi as chairperson, citing alleged integrity concerns.

Members of the Kenya Kwanza alliance who sit on the PAC are now eying the coveted seat, arguing that with some Orange Democratic Movement members now in the government, there was no longer a distinction between the majority and minority sides.

The oversight committee is chaired by someone from the minority side under House Standing Orders. Its main mandate is to scrutinise government expenditure and ensure prudent use of public resources, transparency and accountability.

Ideal candidate

ODM’s Central Management Committee last week proposed Amisi for the role of chair of the PAC that was left vacant after Mbadi joined the Cabinet as Treasury Secretary.

ODM, led by Raila Odinga, has the majority of MPs in the Azimio coalition and held the PAC position.

Odinga is said to have endorsed Amisi’s nomination.

The 19 members of the committee were reportedly working to identify the ideal candidate for the position.

While they rejected the youthful legislator, three distinct camps have since emerged on the committee, each proposing its preferred candidate for the coveted position.

One camp is championing the promotion of Butere MP Tindi Mwale, the current vice-chairperson of the committee, while another is pushing for Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.

A member who talked to People Daily in confidence said some lawmakers consider Otiende, a senior lawyer, competent for the position.

’Impeccable reputation’

Meanwhile, a third camp has emerged supporting Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo, who had previously been nominated by the ODM panel to succeed Amisi as vice-chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services Administration and Agriculture.

“We will not allow the party to dictate who will chair this committee, which serves as the engine of Parliament’s oversight role,” said a first-time MP from Western Kenya.

“What ODM is doing to us is more than just dictatorship; we must exercise our rights as members, and whoever chairs this committee must have an impeccable reputation.”

The MP added: “Who doesn’t know the character of the person proposed to be our chair? Allowing him to take this position would be like sinking ourselves into a deep hole.”

Standing Orders

Soy MP David Kiplagat, who is reportedly eyeing the vice-chairperson slot, wants the Standing Orders reviewed to allow members of the majority party to also contest the position.

He argues that the inclusion of some ODM members in the Cabinet means there is no longer a clear distinction between the minority and majority Parties.

According to the respective Standing Orders of the National Assembly and Senate, oversight committees are chaired by members of the minority party.

“If you look at the Standing Orders, it is clear that some members are banned from contesting the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship due to the perception that they belong to the majority,” Kiplagat said.

“Now that we have dissolved the distinction between the majority and the minority, can we open up the positions to everyone?”

He added: “In our Constitution, we have a Parliament where all members perform oversight functions. Isn’t it only fair that the Standing Orders be reviewed so that any member who wishes to contest the chairmanship or vice-chairmanship can do so?”

Leader with integrity

But Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera disagreed with Kiplagat. “The Speaker of the National Assembly has addressed this subject of minority and majority parties numerous times, and he has not stated anything to the contrary. Indeed, there is a minority party in the House, of which I am a member,” he said.

A first-term MP from the Rift Valley, who allegedly once had an altercation with Amisi, said the committee needs a leader with integrity and a proven track record, not someone with a tarnished reputation.

The chairperson of the committee, he said, should be someone above reproach who has the respect and trust of the public, stakeholders and MPs.

Another member described the committee as one of the most influential parliamentary oversight bodies.

“The chairmanship of the PAC is a highly coveted position, often seen as a strategic platform for enhancing political influence and oversight capabilities. We cannot allow anyone to lead the committee,” one member said.

Another MP said: “I want to reiterate what some of my colleagues have said: we will not allow a candidate to be pushed down our throats. Anyone with questionable integrity and no solid reputation should never even imagine being the chair of PAC.”