Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has called out National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi for failing to show up to the Senate on Wednesday for grilling where he was expected to field various questions on matters of national interest from lawmakers.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Sifuna expressed his disappointment at Mbadi’s no-show, despite the Cabinet Secretary having communicated that he would attend in advance.
While making his remarks, Sifuna said that it was unacceptable for Mbadi to not only skip the session but to also send his unavailability to appear notice when the proceedings were already in session.
“I am very shocked. We woke up very early to come and attend this session. The question that I was supposed to put to CS Mbadi is a question that is over a year old.” Sifuna stated.
The legislator who worked hand in hand with Mbadi at the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) when they worked as Secretary General and Chairman respectively, expressed his disillusionment claiming that it had only taken the CS a mere two weeks to become what he described a proper Kenya Kwanza CS with no respect for the house.
According to the letter addressed to the speaker communicating Mbadi’s absence, the Cabinet Secretary skipped the house session because he was attending a crucial meeting at State House, Nairobi.
However, Sifuna said that this did not excuse his absence as it is widely known that during Mwai Kibaki’s regime, if there happened to be a matter at State House and Parliament, the house always took precedence.
At the very least, in Sifuna’s view, a notice of absence should have been sent the previous day.
He also termed the absence inexcusable since Mbadi was once an MP and therefore understands how crucial it is for cabinet secretaries to appear in senate when summoned.
“Honourable John Mbadi should be called to order. This is not the John Mbadi I knew, I don’t know what they have done to him. He used to respect Parliament.” Sifuna said.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua also raised the same issue in the senate saying that there are clear laws instructing CSs who are supposed to appear before Parliament to prioritise that above any other commitments.
“According to Article 132 the President is accountable to Parliament, according to Article 153 of the Constitution, the Cabinet is accountable to Parliament. Those two articles read together, place the parliament of Kenya at such a position that when you are required to appear either before a committee of parliament or a plenary sitting of parliament, everything else must stop.” Wambua noted.
Mbadi’s absence comes just a day after President Ruto chaired his first cabinet meeting since the formation of the broad-based cabinet.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna speaking at the People Dialogue Festival on March 6, 2024
Photo
ODM
