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{
    "id": 627358,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/627358/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 273,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "STATUS OF THE SESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON COUNTY PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENTS Hon. Senators, as you recall at the sitting of the Senate yesterday Tuesday 1st March, 2016, the Deputy Speaker, Sen. Kembi-Gitura rose under Standing Order No. 45 (2) (b) of the Senate Standing Orders, seeking a Statement from the Chairperson of the Sessional Committee on County Public Accounts and Investments regarding the report of the Special Committee on the proposed removal from office by impeachment of hon. Mwangi Wa Iria, Governor of Murang’a County, dated 6th November, 2015. The Deputy Speaker set out a number of issues on which he sought the way forward from the Committee. Sen. Wamatangi, a Member of the Sessional Committee on the County Public Accounts and Investments then informed the House that the matter raised by Sen. Kembi-Gitura was similar to other matters that were pending before the Committee. He further stated that the Committee was in limbo and had been unable to transact business following the de-whipping of the Chairperson of the Committee, Sen. Okong’o. Sen. Wamatangi sought the guidance of the Chair on whether a committee should be rendered dysfunctional by the de-whipping of its chairperson or whether despite the de-whipping of its chairperson, the Committee could continue to transact its business. The Senator argued that if a committee could be rendered dysfunctional by the de- whipping of its chairperson, this would create an avenue to be used by political parties to ensure that when there was business before a committee that the party did not favour, the business did not proceed. He further expressed concern that the present status of the Sessional Committee on the Sessional Committee on County Public Accounts and Investments would set a bad precedence for the Senate. A number of Senators rose on points of order to speak to this matter including Sen. Kembi-Gitura, Sen. (Dr.) Machage, Sen. Muthama, Sen. Okong’o, Sen. Billow, Sen. Hassan, Sen. Orengo and Sen. Elachi. On account of the gravity of the issues raised, I undertook to deliver a ruling on this matter today, Wednesday, 2nd March, 2016. From the deliberations on this matter, three issues arise that require the direction of the Chair, namely:- (1) The manner in which the Sessional Committee on County Public Accounts and Investments should be constituted, (2) The manner in which the chairperson of a committee can be de-whipped, (3) The effect of such de-whipping. Hon. Senators, before I proceed to give direction on these issues, it is important that I set out the sequence of events in this matter. (1) Following the reconstitution of the Sessional Committee on County Public Accounts and Investments, in accordance with Standing Order No.183(1) of the Standing Orders, the Clerk of the Senate convened the first meeting of the Committee on the 16th February, 2016 for purposes of election of the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson of the Committee. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes"
}