On 20 November 2018, a National Assembly powers and privileges committee said it had found signs that some lawmakers may have been compromised in the fight over a report on contaminated sugar imports.
The committee has now invited Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss George Kinoti to look into the allegations. Earlier accounts had claimed that the money changed hands in Parliament toilets, although the committee’s summary did not identify the alleged recipients.
The report at the centre of the row concerned the illegal importation of sugar contaminated with various dangerous metals into the country. According to the committee’s sketchy findings, “Based on the oral submissions by the witnesses, it is apparent that some members may have been involved in some form of impropriety,”
That wording left out names, even as questions grew over why the committee did not give a full account of who allegedly took the bribes and how the matter unfolded.
Among the lawmakers who appeared before the committee were Didmas Barasa (Kimilili), James K’Oyoo (Muhoroni), Jane Kihara (Naivasha), Geoffrey Osotsi (nominated), Simba Arati (Dagoretti North), John Waluke (Sirisia), Wajir Woman Rep Fatuma Gedi, Geoffrey Odanga (Matayos) and Rehab Mukami (Nyeri).
Barasa said Ms Gedi was the person allegedly distributing the bribe to MPs in order to get the report rejected. The committee’s findings did not settle the matter, but instead pushed it toward a criminal investigation.
The allegations landed at a time when some MPs had also been in the news for demanding a house and a “good retirement package” from taxpayers.
Nyakundi Report notes that the committee’s own account remained cautious, but the referral to George Kinoti signaled that the bribery claims were serious enough to warrant further inquiry.
