This archive report was first published on 17 November 2021.
Kenya: Senators, MPs Engage in Supremacy War Over FKF Probe ¶
On November 17, 2021, a storm was brewing between the Senate and the National Assembly on who should investigate the rot at Football Kenya Federation (FKF). The two houses were once again entangled in a supremacy war, with both looking into the alleged misappropriation of millions of shillings given to FKF to run sports.
The Senate's Labour and Social Welfare Committee, chaired by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, had summoned Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to appear before it. However, the National Assembly's Sports, Culture and Tourism Committee said the matter fell under its mandate and told Ms Mohamed to disregard the Senate summons.
Lawmakers wanted the CS to shed light on misappropriation of funds and abuse-of-office claims levelled against FKF president Nick Mwendwa and CEO Barry Otieno. Ms Mohamed had disbanded FKF and formed a caretaker committee to oversee football matters, saying Mr Mwendwa had failed to account for millions of shillings.
Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo urged Ms Mohamed not to honour the Senate summons, describing senators as 'idlers'. "The problem with the Senate is that it has a lot of idle people. It has very learned people but they don't know what to do. I want to tell the CS not to honor the summons," Mr Kilonzo said.
Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata pointed out that Article 125 of the Constitution grants Parliament, which includes the Senate, the powers to call for evidence from anyone. "It would be a violation of the Constitution for CS Amina to refuse to honour a summons from the Senate, however mischievous the summon might be. It is better for her to come and argue her case and challenge the findings in court if aggrieved," Mr Kang'ata told the Nation.
