Lawmakers clash over CoB boss prosecution

Lawmakers yesterday clashed over the Tuesday’s arrest and prosecution of Controller of Budget (CoB) Dr Margaret Nyakang’o.

While MPs allied to the government insisted that the Judiciary should be allowed to do its job, those from the opposition side demanded that Speaker Moses Wetang’ula intervenes to save Nyakang’o from further shame as she is a holder of a constitutional office.

Led by Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah, MPs from Kenya Kwanza said the matter should be left to the courts to deal with as the matter Nyakang’o had been charged with happened when she was not in the CoB.

Ichung’wah said it is laughable that the individuals purporting to defend her were the same people who vilified her when she claimed there was state capture.

Immune

“These matters should be left to the courts and whatever defense Nyakang’o has should be presented in court,”he said.

He alleged Nyakang’o was among the beneficiaries of the budgeted corruption that she had claimed was rampant in her office.

In November, Nyakang’o had revealed how the National Treasury over-budgeted her salary and by extension salaries of other State officers by three times, that may have cost the country more than Sh1 billion taxpayer’s money.

Ichung’wah’s statement came after Leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi and Minority Whip Junet Mohammed demanded that Wetang’ula rules on the matter.

Mandate

Wandayi, who started debate on the matter, said it is unfortunate that this is the first time that the holder of a constitutional office has been charged in a court of law since 2010.

The move he said, raises serious questions especially when the CoB was exercising her mandate as required.

He said: “The functions of CoB are so important to the nation and therefore any insinuation that she is barred from her duties can cause a lot of distress in the economy generally. Some of us are of the view that she is being hounded out of office over her strong stand against corruption.”

Mohammed sought to know why Nyakang’o is being arraigned in court over a matter that happened before she took over office yet she was vetted by parliament.

But despite the push to have Wetang’ula intervene, he objected to the move saying he has no role in the matter.

He said: “Honourable members, let’s not prejudice Dr Nyakango’s case. If what Hon Wandayi is alleging is true, and he has evidence to show the Speaker, then the Speaker will have some locus on the matter. As it is now, I have absolutely no locus.