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The Senate Ad Hoc Committee has imposed a Ksh 500,000 fine on government Pathologist Johansen Oduor for repeatedly evading their summons.

Committee Chairman Danson Mungatana expressed frustration at Oduor’s non-compliance, emphasizing that he had been summoned three times and had evaded all three summons.

Concerns on Oduor

Mungatana also raised concerns about the Chief Pathologist’s behaviour, especially when other high-ranking officials had cooperated with the committee.

“We asked the Chief Pathologist to attend this meeting. The fact of the matter is he was effectively served through his number. According to this return of services, was served electronically but has been evading the summons. This committee is doing the work of the people of Kenya, if the ministers, permanent secretaries, DCI, NSIS and top-ranking have been here what is it that prevents him from appearing before this committee?,” Mungatana said.

The committee determined that the maximum allowable fine of Ksh 500,000, in accordance with the law, should be levied on Oduor for his conduct as a government officer.

“This committee takes deem look at his conduct as an officer of government and the decision we have taken is we have given him a fine of Ksh 500,000, which is the maximum allowable under the law that a committee can give,” he added.

The committee decided that Oduor should be arrested and brought before the committee next Tuesday at 10:00 to respond to the summons and answer the questions raised by the people of Kenya.

“So Dr. Oduor, you will be presented here under arrest, and the Ksh 500,000 fine is not the government’s responsibility; it’s because you’ve been evading,” he stated.

Oduor summoned alongside McKenzie

Furthermore, the committee has summoned Paul Mackenzie to appear before them and issued a warning to the officer in charge of the prisons not to obstruct the process.

“We want to direct a warning that the process service from parliament to re-effect the services of the summons on Mr Mckenzie for him to appear before the senate committee on Tuesday,” Mungata stated.

“We are giving a warning to the officer in charge of the prison Mr Eric Ochieng SSP, that should he obstruct the service of summons, he will be committing an offence of obstructing justice. He must facilitate the law and produce him before the Senate. We are not doing this because we want to do this but because over 400 people are dead,” he said.