Chirchir risks Sh500,000 fine for ‘snubbing’ senators
By Rawlings, February 23, 2024
Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir risks being fined Sh500,000 for failing to honour summons to meet a Senate committee.
The CS was invited to appear before Senators in connection to the deaths and injuries occasioned by the gas explosion (pictured) in Embakasi, Nairobi, last month.
This was after a standoff ensued during a Parliamentary committee meeting after the chairperson Wahome Wamatinga (Nyeri) refused to issue summons to Chirchir and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for snubbing senators over the deadly Embakasi gas explosion.
Yesterday, Chirchir, who had earlier indicated that he would appear before the Energy committee, made a last minute call that he would not attend the meeting since he had been invited to a State House meeting.
Chirchir was to appear alongside Sakaja and National Environment and Management Authority (Nema) Director General Mamo Boru Mamo.
Energy Principal Secretary Mohammed Liban and Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo were the only senior government officials who turned up.
Failure by the Cabinet Secretary, Nema boss and Sakaja irked the Senators who insisted that the committee chair to pronounce the Sh500,000 fine each on Chirchir and Sakaja.