By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Newsunplug KenyaNewsunplug KenyaNewsunplug Kenya
  • News
    • Metro
    • Politics
    • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Spotify
Reading: Senate committee bars Mandago from Uasin Gishu session over conflict of interest
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Newsunplug KenyaNewsunplug Kenya
Font ResizerAa
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Spotify
  • News
    • Metro
    • Politics
    • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Spotify
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Newsunplug Kenya > Blog > News > Senate committee bars Mandago from Uasin Gishu session over conflict of interest
News

Senate committee bars Mandago from Uasin Gishu session over conflict of interest

hallanaija
Last updated: July 12, 2023 6:27 am
hallanaija
2 years ago
Share
Mandago
SHARE

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago has been barred from attending a Senate watchdog committee sitting over conflict of interest and possible intimidation of witnesses, as the rift with his successor widens.

The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) ruled that former governors, who are now senators and whose tenure is being scrutinised by the committee, cannot take part in such proceedings.

Senator Mandago had wanted to attend a meeting of the committee on Thursday where Governor Jonathan Bii will appear to answer questions on the use of public funds by Uasin Gishu County.

The committee is considering the county executive’s audit report for the financial year ending June 2020, when Mr Mandago was governor.

Senator Mandago and Governor Bii recently fell out and have not been seeing eye to eye, with senators fearing the animosity could spill over into Thursday’s session.

On Wednesday, members of the committee unanimously decided not to allow Mr Mandago to attend the committee, even as a friend of the committee, due to conflict of interest and possible intimidation of witnesses.

READ MORE  FBI launches urgent manhunt for Iranian secret agent accused of plotting to assassinate Trump-era officials in revenge for killing of commander of Iran's Quds Force

Conflict of interest

“This committee has resolved not to allow Senator Jackson Mandago to be part of the proceedings over conflict of interest and possible intimidation of witnesses,” said the committee’s chairperson, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang.

The committee had toyed with the idea of allowing the former governor to sit in as a friend of the committee, but this was abandoned when it became clear that it would not be tenable.

“We can allow him (Mandago) to attend but only introduce himself and not speak, interrogate or deliberate on matters before the committee. We want to be careful that we don’t close doors on other senators,” said Mr Kajwang.

Nyandarua Senator John Methu initially agreed with Mr Kajwang that Mr Mandago could attend but not be given the opportunity to actively participate in the proceedings.

Mandago

“Let him be notified in advance that if he attends, he will not be allowed to interrogate any matter,” he said.

However, Mr Methu later changed his mind after the committee’s legal officers raised concerns that the former governor’s presence would amount to a conflict of interest and that if he was mentioned adversely, he might be tempted to rebut and, if allowed to do so, could invalidate the meeting.

READ MORE  UN suspends food distribution in Rafah because of shortages and fighting

“This is a very special circumstance and I agree that (Mr) Mandago should not attend the meeting. It is not that he is being locked out,” said Mr Methu.

Such meetings

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah said it was only fair to treat senators in similar circumstances as Mr Mandago since former governors who are not currently senators are not allowed to attend such meetings.

“It is not like we are conducting a trial; it is just an inquiry. It will be untidy to have him around. We can ask him to stay away or he can excuse himself the same way Senator Ali Roba did,” said Mr Omtatah.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the Senate’s Standing Orders, which allow senators to attend a committee as a friend, did not contemplate a situation where a former governor would be a senator, and this complicates the situation for Senator Mandago.

To address the emerging lacuna, he said Mr Mandago can be invited to appear before the committee at a later date if he is mentioned adversely during the proceedings.

“You cannot come here as a senator (and) then turn into a witness in the course of the proceedings. We have a procedural way of inviting witnesses and so the two must be separated because the committee cannot be ambushed,” said Mr Sifuna.

READ MORE  Maize millers protest rule barring farmgate purchases in Tanzania
The government activates the National Heroes Fund to provide financial assistance to Mashujaa Day Honorees.
Senator Dan Manzo calls for arrest of EPRA officials over fuel prices
Laikipia government promotes coffee farming
In response to calls for an accounting of more than Sh40 billion, Governor Sang defends his performance.
Trump steps back from direct role in Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations
Share This Article
Facebook Email Print
Previous Article Kenya Kenya to host 15 Heads of State and Government from Thursday
Next Article Al-Shabab Al-Shabaab intensifies terror attacks in Kenya
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

about us

We influence 20 million users and is the number one business and technology news network on the planet.

Recent Posts

  • Cameroon says 10 kidnapped children freed
  • Arsenal make complete U-turn on explosive £50m Man Utd star after ‘due diligence’…
  • Transfer: Man Utd blocked me from leaving this summer – Maguire
  • Ronaldo Disappointed by International teammate’s Decision to Join Premier League club Over Real Madrid
  • BREAKING NEWS: “I dumped Tottenham for Arsenal, not because of anybody but because of this particular Arsenal player, it has always been my dream to play alongside with Him one day” – Eberechi Eze names the ONE Arsenal player that inspired him to join Arsenal after completing Arsenal move TODAY – Not Saka and Not Madueke

Recent Comments

No comments to show.
Newsunplug KenyaNewsunplug Kenya
© Newsunplug Kenya. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?