On 20 November 2018, a National Assembly committee said there were signs that some MPs may have been bribed to oppose a report on the importation of illegal and contaminated sugar into Kenya.
The claims appear in a report by the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Committee, which has asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Director of Criminal Investigations to look into the allegations against some lawmakers.
The committee did not identify any MP it believed had taken money. Instead, it said the oral evidence it received pointed to possible impropriety among some members.
“Based on the oral submissions by the witnesses, it is apparent that some members may have been involved in some form of impropriety,” reads the report.
Those who appeared before the committee included Didmas Barasa of Kimilili, James K’Oyoo of Muhoroni, Jane Kihara of Naivasha, Geoffrey Osotsi, the nominated MP, Simba Arati of Dagoretti North, John Waluke of Sirisia, Wajir Woman Rep Fatuma Gedi, Geoffrey Odanga of Matayos and Rehab Mukami of Nyeri.
Mr Barasa told the committee that Ms Gedi was the person allegedly bribing MPs to reject the report. That allegation was recorded in the committee’s findings, but the report itself did not say the claim had been proved.
The committee’s move now puts the matter in the hands of the anti-graft agencies, which are expected to examine the allegations and determine whether any criminal conduct took place.
