Namwambas PAC Fate On The Balance

Namwamba, who doubles up as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), is facing a censure motion from the committee following allegations of bribery leveled against him.

Namwamba's fate on whether he will continue chairing the committee or not will be known Thursday when the committee members meet to deliberate the allegations.

Namwamba has been accused of receiving bribes as the chair of PAC, an issue that touches on his integrity as the chair of the committee.

So far, 15 out of the 26 members of the committee want the youthful Namwamba ousted over his alleged conduct. The members, among them three from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), want Namwamba out.

Lagdera lawmaker Mohammed Shidiye insists that Namwamba must be fired and changed with taking bribes.

FIGHTING GRAFT

Three ODM MPs on Wednesday said it will be difficult for them to save Namwamba should the graft allegations against him be confirmed.

MPs Paul Otuoma of Funyula, Timothy Bosire of Kitutu Masaba and Oyugi Magwanga of Kasipul said ODM has never supported corruption and will never do that even in Namwamba’s case.

Otuoma said it is still early to drag ODM into the committee squabbles, saying what is being said about the PAC boss are mere allegations, therefore rushing to defend him will only confirm the allegations.

However, a section of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) Members of Parliament led by the Ugunja Legislator Opiyo Wandayi have vowed to oppose the motion, which the Speaker of the National Assembly allowed to proceed.

PUNISHING REBELS

Adding his voice to the heated debate, Rangwe MP George Oner has called on the Orange party to punish its members who signed the petition to remove Namwamba.

Oner said that by signing the petition, the MPs went against the party’s stand as its Parliamentary Group meeting had not sat to sanction such a move.

“I have not attended any PG where the issue to oust Namwamba was passed. What the MPs who signed the petition have done is more serious than what we are being accused of during the Homa Bay Senate seat by-election,” he said.

On Wednesday, the CORD leadership in Parliament, which includes Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula and Francis Nyenze, held several meetings with its members to try and have ODM members within the PAC withdraw their signatures from a petition to remove Namwamba.

By Maureen Murimi