Speaker allows 29 MPs in State firms inquiry to skip sittings

Speaker Justin Muturi has authorised the Public Investment Committee to have sittings during Parliamentary session. FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By EDWIN MUTAI

In Summary

• The 29 MPs will skip House sessions as they seek answers to dubious investments by the 363 parastatals that have not been settled for more than a decade.

The Public Investment Committee is set for a two-month crash programme to clear outstanding audit queries before the Executive restructures state corporations.

The unprecedented programme will see the 29 members skip House sessions as they seek answers to dubious investments by the 363 parastatals that have not been settled for more than a decade.

“We are aware that the government is set to undertake and review the effectiveness of some state corporations. We want to table our first report before the end of the first session of the 11th Parliament in December,” PIC chairman Adan Keynan said.

He said that Speaker Justin Muturi had authorised the committee to have sittings during Parliamentary sessions, meaning they would not be subjected to a rule that requires MPs to lose their seats if they skip eight consecutive plenary sessions.

The concession also means that the Members will earn more in committee sitting allowances because they can now hold up to three sessions in one day besides technical appearances in the plenary.

That would earn the members about Sh100,000 per week from the sittings.

Parliamentary Standing Orders prohibits sittings of committees when House business is being transacted on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and the whole day on Wednesday.

Mr Keynan said that PIC has the mandate to report on the effectiveness or otherwise of investments in all State agencies and private firms that have government shareholding.

“We ask all state agencies and those semi owned by government to prepare the updated books of accounts and present them to Parliament as a matter of agency.

The committee is deliberating on the financial statements for the year 2001/02 to 2011/13. About 250 books of accounts have been submitted to parliament for scrutiny by various state corporations.

Kenya Revenue Authority which has never appeared before a Parliamentary committee is among those required to respond to audit queries this week.