Why integrity of Eala is at stake: member

Mr Peter Muthuki from Kenya speaks during a past East African Legislative Assembly sitting. PHOTO | FILE      

By The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

Mr Peter Mathuki, from Kenya, says the recent storm that followed plans to remove Speaker Margaret Zziwa has exposed dangerous fissures that could leave the stature of the assembly in bad light.

Dar es Salaam. A member of the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) has warned that the independence and integrity of the regional body is under serious threat.

 

Mr Peter Mathuki, from Kenya, says the recent storm that followed plans to remove Speaker Margaret Zziwa has exposed dangerous fissures that could leave the stature of the assembly in bad light.

He told The Citizen from Geneva, Switzerland, that the division in the assembly and backtracking among MPs on the motion to kick out Ms Zziwa over charges of incompetence puts to question Eala’s MPs’ integrity and commitment to serve the people of East Africa justly and truthfully. Mr Mathuki also spoke on a reported letter by President Uhuru Kenyatta directing all Kenyan Eala MPs to withdraw their support for the motion to dethrone Ms Zziwa, a Ugandan. “We are now at a crossroads and the entire House is at risk of losing its main purpose and relevance. Eala’s integrity and independence as a democratic and justice dispensing organ is on test,” he said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. Mr Mathuki was in Geneva to attend a labour meeting.

President Kenyatta’s letter dated June 3, was written to the group’s chairman Joseph Kiangoi and was meant to express his displeasure at the censure motion.

It reads: “I have consulted with my colleagues Heads of State of the EAC member countries on this matter and we are all of the considered view, it is not in the interest of promoting the principal mission of EAC.

In this context, I would not wish Kenya to be seen by other member states to have a hidden agenda. It is with this view that I am directing you as the chair and your Kenyan colleagues, to immediately withdraw your signatures for the censure motion.”

Mr Mathuki is the architect of the motion which has already been filed with the assembly but has not been moved on the floor for debate. Asked about President Uhuru’s letter and what action, if any, they have taken, he said: “I have not seen the letter yet and cannot therefore comment about its content. Nevertheless, remember the principle of separation of power. Eala and the Executive each exercise independent authority. Ours is to offer oversight on EAC matters through laid down regulations and procedures.”

He said as far as he was concerned, the motion will be seen through the due process. “It is already filed and must be discussed on the floor of the assembly to determine the next course of action,” he said.

The motion seeks the removal of Ms Zziwa whom some MPs claim has failed to steer the assembly appropriately. They accuse her, among other things, of arrogance, disrespect and high-handedness, claims she has vehemently denied.

Mr Mathuki remained optimistic his motion would succeed despite a last minute withdrawal of Tanzanian MPs, who had earlier backed it.

Last week Mr Adam Kimbisa and Ms Shy-Rose Banji read to reporters a statement indicating they had withdrawn from the motion. They said they had changed their mind after realising there was a “hidden agenda” behind efforts to remove Ms Zziwa.

The group said the attempt to impeach the Eala Speaker was not in Tanzania’s best interests. Accordingly, seven of the country’s nine reps in the regional assembly concluded that the push to oust the Ugandan was not justifiable. “Allegations of favouritism, arrogance, nepotism and misconduct are unsubstantiated and trivial,” said Mr Kimbisa, who was among those who had earlier signed the impeachment petition.